Update: Saturday 5th April 2014 -- I have prepared a 'Point of Sale' petition sheet (laminated) and petition signature form, both are below, please download and discuss with any establishments you know - shops, restaurants, offices,..... My name, address and phone number is on them, if you need me to laminate for you, give me a ring. Yesterday (Friday) I went on my first cold-calling mission for more years than I care to remember. I needn't have been nervous; all of the retailers I spoke to were delighted. I'd been into Boots Freshwater on Thursday to have a chat with the pharmacist, who is also the store manager and she was very supportive. She has recruited one of her staff to open up a Facebook page - I will get details and post them here later. By Friday Boots had collected almost a whole sheet of names and addresses.
The other establishments in lower Freshwater who have more than happily taken the petition forms are: Boots, ladies and gents' hairdresser, newspaper shop, Sainsbury's, Hong Kong Express, Hurst, Heart Foundation charity shop, West Wight Sports Centre and the Health Centre. There has been a terrific interest. It was also pointed out to me that there is a road safety issue when parents drop children off to the school. If the parents can't get the half hour free (and they can't or won't afford 90p twice a day) they will park on the road which could be a serious risk especially to the children. Surely it's better to have the cars safely in the car park, not on the road?
So, a tremendous first day with huge support from the community and local councillors. My job over this weekend is to write to the Parish and Town Councils. Meanwhile special thanks to Cllrs Paul Fuller and Stuart Hutchinson. See the bottom of this post for the downloadable petition pack.
I have started a petition at change.org to ask the IWC to keep the free half hour's parking at Moa Place. Clearly, the new charge will hit those popping into the doctors or chemists for prescriptions, those who are helping infirm passengers in and out, and it will hit the local traders very badly as folk will tend to shop at the COOP instead of paying at Moa Place.
If you agree with the petition, can you please sign it and copy the link to as many of your friends as possible. Under the IWC Constitution if there are over 2500 signatures then the full Council must debate it. That's a huge number for our small ward, but maybe it's possible?
The link to the petition is http://chn.ge/1gK7gcT
Update: I have emailed all of the County Councillors in the hope that they will support the petition. This is the letter I wrote:
Update#2 2nd April. We have received a very positive letter from Cllr Paul Fuller and Cllr Luisa Hillard. These are below:
Best wishes, David
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