Winchester MP Steve Brine brought all the key players together today (Monday 5th December 2016) for a top-level meeting to discuss commuter parking at Micheldever Station.
Tensions have risen in recent weeks after a decision by Winchester City Council to impose a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) regime in the village were deferred at a meeting of Winchester City Council on 9th November 2016. The reason given was to allow the council time to consult more widely with Network Rail, South West Trains and the Parish Council. Mr Brine promised at the time to pull the roundtable together in the wake of that decision to help Cabinet Member, Cllr James Byrnes, return to the matter early in the New Year with the fullest possible evidence base.
Steve says; "Unbelievably it was the first time all those involved have sat down together to see if there's any way we can make it safer for residents of the village while ensuring a successful railway station continues to thrive. Everybody recognises there's a serious problem in Micheldever Station with badly parked commuter cars crossing driveways and blocking up local roads. Bottom line is, there's not enough parking at or near the station which is displacing vehicles all over the village.
"The purpose of this session was help Cllr Byrnes and WCC officers hear the arguments from a wider viewpoint and, crucially, to kick around with Network Rail and the train operating company ways they can help. It's not easy, if it were we'd have solved this years ago, but NR and SWT agreed to take away three ideas for extended parking provision on railway land and will report back to me as soon as possible.
Steve adds; "Of course I know many villagers were disappointed the TRO wasn't confirmed last month but actually I think that was the right decision because a decision such as this needs to be taken with all available information on the table. That absolutely includes safety in the village and protecting what is a lovely area but it should also consider the bigger picture and be very sure there are no unintended consequences.
"The rail service from Micheldever Station is an important part of the local transport economy, adds great value to homes in the village and is much valued by commuters from across the Dever Valley and further down towards Winchester. On the other hand, the village is fed up with dozens of cars arriving in the village each weekday morning and I saw some awful examples when out knocking doors in the village recently that were unfair and actually quite dangerous because of cars being parked too near junctions and driveways. As the MP for the whole area, I have to represent everyone and do what I can to see decisions taken by the local authority are fair to all.
"At the end of the day, Winchester City Council is the decision making body in this case but I'm always pleased to help and a Member of Parliament can often pull key people together in a way councillors cannot. WCC may well end of making the same decision, to impose the TRO, when it returns to the issue early in the New Year but the hope is it can do so in the knowledge there's the outline of a plan emerging to ensure we don't do irrevocable damage to a much valued station on the Wessex Route."
Attending the meeting were; Steve Brine MP, Mark Wilkins (FirstGroup franchise bid team), Cllr James Byrnes (WCC Cabinet Member), Alistair Wright (Head of Station Property at SWT), Aeneas Tole & Paul Richmond (Network Rail), Cllr William Helen (Micheldever Parish Council), Neville Crisp (WCC), Simon Finch (WCC), Jamie Leader (commuter and petition creator against the TRO as presented on 9th November), Phil Dominey (Stagecoach franchise bid team).
Pictured; Steve Brine MP discussing the issue with Cllr Byrnes at Micheldever Station last month.
More information ...
Crunch time for village parking puzzle (Steve Brine visits Micheldever Station, 10 November 2016)
Any constituents wishing to write to Steve Brine about this issue should email [email protected] All correspondence will be shared with Winchester City Council as the decision making authority in this matter.
