Council leaders back parking plan

The CPZ scheme aims to improve parking in Cardiff suburbs

Plans to introduce controlled parking zones (CPZ) across areas of Cardiff have moved a step closer after council leaders backed the scheme.

The council's executive approved the CPZ plans, which supporters say will improve parking provision.

But campaigners opposed to the plans in the Canton area have vowed to continue their opposition.

On Monday, Canton residents voted at a public meeting to hold a referendum on the plans.

The council's plans will see new parking restrictions introduced in several Cardiff districts, which also include Cathays, Gabalfa, Riverside, Roath and Cardiff Bay.

We are still fighting on - it's far from over Louise Hawkins, Canton Residents Action Committee

Measures will include the introduction of pay-and-display parking and paid-for permits for residents.

Louise Hawkins, of the Canton Residents Action Committee, which opposes the CPZ, said: "We are still fighting on - it's far from over.

"We are working very hard to get as many people as possible out to vote in the referendum.

'Leafleting homes'

"If anything, the council's decision has given our campaign even more impetus.

"I don't think the council thought they were going to have this level of opposition.

"This scheme is about revenue generation - if there was proper parking enforcement and more traffic wardens there wouldn't be a problem.

"We are going to be leafleting homes in Canton and even using a loudhailer urging everyone to get together and vote in the referendum."

There have been protests against the scheme in the Canton area

The council introduced the proposals because it said many householders and businesses have difficulty finding parking space on the streets.

The council said parking was likely to become more difficult with the rapid growth of Cardiff as a city.

In June last year, it was announced that a consultation exercise in the six areas affected had produced a two-to-one majority in favour of the scheme from 4,500 people who took part.

But there has been strong opposition to the scheme in Canton, with some residents and businesses claiming the plans were a "stealth tax" which would not improve parking issues.

On Monday, the latest in a series of public meetings saw residents vote to hold a referendum on 26 January.

But now Cardiff Council's executive has voted to go ahead with the scheme, which is expected to be implemented in November 2008.

Rejecting an appeal from opposition leaders to delay the scheme, the council's Liberal Democrat leader Rodney Berman said: "It's not the case that there will not be an opportunity to come back to this at a later date, depending on the outcome of the poll in Canton.

"But it is dangerous to prejudge the outcome of the Canton poll."