Yes, I was one of the Town Planning Committee councillors that successfully encouraged the CBC officers to report that their proposed parking scheme in the centre of Houghton Regis was universally opposed by residents.
And yet, I remained unhappy at the end of the meeting.
We were able to demonstrate that the scheme lacked an evidence-based argument but my first question to the CBC officers was about how the scheme would affect residents with mobility issues. I asked whether an impact assessment had been carried out on how the proposals would affect disabled people living in the area. Such residents may not themselves have a vehicle or they may rely on the casual visits of friends in what would otherwise be social isolation... a permanent lockdown.
A conversation with the Equality Advisory Support Service convinced me that such fears were not to be dismissed out of hand. I was told the plans had been discussed with an officer whose job it was to consider such things, but I was not reassured that an impact assessment had been done.
How many residents with mobility issues live in the area concerned? How would the parking arrangements affect them? Would they be more or less likely to receive visitors? How had similar schemes affected such residents? Oh... And what did the disabled residents themselves think about proposals? How might reasonable adjustments be made to the scheme to address their needs? Has anyone asked them?
Residents with lived experience might be worthwhile consulting.
Written by: Cllr Chris Slough
Comments