The future of Ely

So over 12,000 people sign a petition opposing parking charges in Ely but the council show their contempt for the electorate by pushing ahead with the death of Ely City Centre.  The City Centre is already struggling with shop units remaining empty and a plethora of charity shops, coffee chains and estate agents choking off the variety of shops that encourages shoppers to buy local and the council want to drive in the final nail.

This council have no mandate to introduce parking charges since they concocted  Ely's death sentence after the last election in which their manifesto made no reference to parking charges and perhaps their idea should wait until after the next election when the electorate can actually vote on what the councils plans.

I read in your publication that Councillor  Allen Alderson compared the propose parking charges to the cost of a cigarette which is quite apt considering how damaging to health the cigarette is and the fact the he would still enjoy the benefits of free parking at the council offices.

The council need to ditch the plans for parking charges and the proposals for a larger Tesco on the outskirts of Ely and introduce a real plan to encourage businesses to Ely and the infrastructure to support a thriving City Centre that doesn't  cease thriving when the sun goes down.  Too many residents just use Ely as a place where they sleep.  They commute, socialise and shop elsewhere because Ely doesn't offer them the facilities and services they require and deserve.  

Ely's most prominent "community centre", The Maltings, is underused but with its location and correct management could be a thriving hub hosting conferences, cinema, live music, exhibitions and bingo  and being a valuable resource all year round.

Congestion on Ely's roads is worsening and and will only deteriorate with two new supermarkets encouraging more traffic but a one way system that incorporates, one of Ely's worse roads, Broad Street coupled with a pedestrian and cycle friendly city centre devoid of cars (not just on a Saturday)  would offer a vibrant, consumer friendly experience and ease congestion.

This may not be the solution but could be part of it and the council need to consider every option and start thinking about the future of Ely and its residents in the 21st century and stop planning our future on the back of cigarette packets.