The Chief Executive of the Genesis Trust, a charity which helps Bath-based individuals and families in crisis, has shared an open letter in which he describes the current LibCouncil and its policies on resident parking charge zones (RPCZ) as "the greatest risk" to the organisation's continued operation.
Nick Mayo wrote:
"BANES Council have created the greatest risk the charity has ever faced...the current LibDem led Council has become the greatest risk to the continued operation of an extremely valuable local charity."
The move came after the charity tried unsuccessfully for months to engage with the Council and explain the issue. Forcing it, like other residents and visitors, to have pay for parking passes for its volunteers at its depots in Moorlands and Walcot would be financially crippling and directly lead to many volunteers ending their support for the charity.
Local Conservatives say the criticism is the high profile tip of an iceberg of exasperation and anger about the LibDems refusal to listen to residents, consult properly or depart from their anti-motoring obsession.
Campaigner Graham Pristo said the only way to bin these proposals is to vote the LibDems who support them out of office in May.
"I am hearing from residents, even those who have voted LibDem in the past, saying they cannot support this Council any longer. If local Conservatives are given the leadership of BANES at the May elections, we will immediately halt these parking charge plans. They have already caused turmoil to businesses, and huge worry to residents.
"We expect the LibDems to try to fudge the issue now, at least until the election is over. It won't wash. They have the traffic powers to reimpose their plans if they are returned to power. The only way to stop that is to vote them out."
