Woodley Town Council objects to proposed changes to Borough car parks in Woodley

At the Full Council meeting held on 28 September 2021, Woodley Town Councillors unanimously voted to object to Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which will potentially affect all four of Woodley’s borough-run car parks.

WBC car parks in Woodley

Crockhamwell Road

Lytham Road (East)

Lytham Road (West)

Headley Road

The TRO is in response to complaints of anti-social behaviour in borough-run car parks and proposes changes to operating hours to ‘all times’ and ‘Mondays to Sundays’, car park management, car park controls and car park charges. 

While Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways at Wokingham Borough Council has stated that there will be no current changes to car park charges, Woodley Town Councillors are concerned that the proposed TRO will potentially allow WBC to introduce charges without consultation as a TRO will no longer be required. 

Councillors also questioned why the TRO was required when CCTV footage should suffice. 

Objection

Therefore, Woodley Town Councillors unanimously objected to the TRO for the following reasons:

• It is not needed for action to be taken on anti-social behaviour as the CCTV already provides that facility 
• It removes the requirement to publicise any potential change to car park charges ahead of implementation 
• It removes the legal need for any resident’s consultation in the future which is anti-democratic.

Woodley Town Council will be submitting an official objection to the TRO and encourages local residents to do the same by 12^thOctober.

Have your say

Objections can be sent to: TM.consultations@wokingham.gov.uk.