Last updated 13:39, Friday, 15 August 2008

A PILOT parking scheme for Ulverston which was scrapped last month and then looked at again, has been thrown out for the final time.

It followed a fight by councillors and residents who argued Ulverston’s narrow streets were being clogged up by commuters, unwilling to pay the £290 for a full South Lakes permit parking for free in back streets – while The Gill and Stockbridge Lane were underused.

Continuing the pilot scheme and advertising it widely, would earn the district council money because spaces not normally used would be filled, they said.

The cabinet turned the scheme down in June and were told to look at it again by the overview and scrutiny committee, after the decision was called in.

And portfolio holder for economic prosperity and transport Graham Vincent said after the discussion, which was held in private, that continuing the scheme would cost the council money.

Mr Vincent said: “Parking costs in Ulverston are already significantly cheaper than elsewhere in the district and Stockbridge Lane is the very cheapest car park in the whole of South Lakeland and people don’t use it so we didn’t feel the issue was one of cost. It is the location of the car park that they disagree with. People aren’t using it because it isn’t where they want it.”

Mr Vincent also said that the existing permit worked out at 80 pence per day and that South Lakeland charges were cheaper than neighbouring councils. Councillor Colin Hodgson , said: “I am very disappointed because I feel there was scope for them to have made this permit available in other areas, like Kendal, Windermere or Ambleside.

“The cabinet has ignored the views of the overview and scrutiny committee, of quite a large number of people in Ulverston and the requirements of the people of Ulverston. I think it’s wrong and I feel they don’t fully understand the resource that they have got there.”

Last year, 17 permits were issued for The Gill and 11 for Stockbridge Lane, but residents and people who work in the town centre feel the scheme wasn’t advertised enough.