Plymouth Conservatives have launched their manifesto for the city council elections in May including a series of measures to win over motorists and shoppers.
The party which is currently in opposition on the Labour-controlled authority is pledging to introduce free parking in the city centre and new “work, shop, eat and play” tariffs to support businesses.
They say they would restore the 40mph speed limit on Tavistock Road from Manadon to Derriford and lobby the Government to abolish tolls on the Tamar Bridge.
The manifesto includes a pledge to reduce the number of private parking contractors by offering landowners financial support for the council to take over managing their car parks.
The manifesto says: “This would mean that motorists would have a fair and transparent parking system without the threat currently placed on them by the private sector.”
The Conservatives promise not to introduce a congestion charge for vehicles entering the city centre.
They say electric cars are the future and they will install charging points in all council car parks with free parking for electric cars, and insist all new homes have charging facilities.
The manifesto includes a pledge to restore 13 parking spaces removed on Mannamead Road at Mutley Plain.
The council’s Tory group leader Ian Bowyer said other highlights of the manifesto include:
- city-wide litter-picking teams
- targeted CCTV in crime hotspots
- more bins and a crackdown on dog-fouling
- more investment in children’s play areas
- reversing Labour’s decision to increase councillors’ allowances saving £50,000.
The Eggbuckland councillor said: “Conservative Councillors have spent many hours talking to local residents who have told us that the low level issues such as littering, dog-fouling, fly-tipping, pavements and tree maintenance are really important.
“It’s very obvious that Labour-run Plymouth City Council just isn’t getting the basics right, and so we will redouble our efforts to sort out these ongoing problems.”
He said the Tories would fast-track blue badge applications, disabled facilities grants and disabled parking spaces for the terminally-ill.
Elections take place in 19 of the 20 Plymouth city council wards on Thursday, May 2. There will be no election in Plympton Chaddlewood.
Councillors are elected for four years, with a third of seats up for election at a time.
Labour took control of the council from the Conservatives after the election in May last year, ending up with 30 of the 57 seats to the Tories' 26. There is one independent.
More from Edward Oldfield
Main points in the Plymouth Conservative 2019 manifesto
Councillors’ allowances
Reduce the cost of councillors’ allowances and red tape by £50,000 by reversing increase under Labour.
Royal Marines
Continue to lobby Ministry of Defence after success by Conservative MPs to secure commitment from Government that Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade will stay in Plymouth.
Homelessness
Ensure accommodation is available so no-one is forced to sleep rough. Support the Government’s policy to eradicate homelessness by 2027, and the “no second night” initiative.
Housing
Plan, fund, lead, innovate and engage with housing needs, supporting strategic £140m investment to deliver 5,000 homes.
Parking and motorists
Pledge to work to reduce the number of private parking contractors in the city, by offering land owners financial support in having the local authority manage their car parks through off-street traffic orders.
Make all motorcycles exempt from residential parking permits - currently cost £30 and are used to deter commuters.
Consider change in Western Approach car park with bespoke tariffs like Work, Shop, Eat and Play charges in other cities that encourage people to use local authority car parks.
Bring forward plans to offer bespoke parking for motor-homes to promote Plymouth as a stopover for those joining or leaving the ferry.
Investigate providing a mobility service to access the city centre from Western Approach car park, similar to the scheme at Derriford Hospital, to encourage people to use the West End of the city.
Free parking
Review city centre parking charges which are hurting shoppers and businesses and introduce periods of free parking in council owned car parks.
Commit to keeping the free parking in council owned shoppers' car parks.
Use the large car park behind the Future Inn as a temporary car park for Windsor House, Land Registry and hospital parking to help commuters and patients, and keep cars away from the nearby residential streets to allow more people the chance to park closer to their homes.
Electric cars
Welcome Government funds for electric car charging points and add electric charging points to every council-owned car park and insist, via the planning system, that all new build properties have the facility to charge electric cars.
Free parking for electric cars in council car parks.
Bring forward plans to develop a car club for owners of electric vehicles based in council car parks across the city, on a subscription basis.
Litter
Work with community volunteers to create a network of litter picking teams to keep streets and green spaces clean.
City centre
Continue to invest with partners to maintain the attractiveness of the city centre as a retail destination of choice.
Deliver Conservative plans to improve the look and feel, making it a more welcoming place whilst restoring civic pride with greater focus on roundabouts and similar displays.
District shopping centres
Bring forward an improvement programme to increase the prospects of centres and support communities, landlords and traders in Southway, Whitleigh, St Budeaux, Plymstock and Estover.
Police
Work with Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable to ensure an increased police presence to make Plymouth safer for all.
Targeted use of CCTV
Target the use of CCTV cameras to hotspots with a high level of anti-social behaviour which will help deter criminals and make communities safer.
Streets
Says Labour hasn't got the basics right, will tackle littering, potholes, blocked drains and fly-tipping to make streets and green spaces cleaner and roads safer.
No charges to be introduced for garden waste collection.
Plastic
Continue work to eliminate single use plastics in the council by September 2019.
Work with communities and businesses across the city to avoid plastic and switch to sustainable alternative.
Pioneer initiatives such as a large sea creature iconic sculpture on the Hoe to deposit plastic.
Aim to reduce Plymouth's environmental impact and conserve the city for future generations.
Older people
Offer more digitally enabled services using smart technology like Amazon Echo.
Fast track applications for blue badges, disabled facilities grants and disabled parking spaces for those with terminal illnesses.
Continue to lobby the Government for a sustainable funding settlement for adult social care, to include increased funding to support carers and those living independently with disabilities.
Dog-fouling
Will crack down on dog-fouling and provide more bins.
Food waste collections
Seek to identify funding to introduce weekly food waste collections as soon as possible, as contained in Government's latest waste strategy plans.
Educational standards
Says standards have continued to decline under Labour, will work collaboratively with schools via the Education Board to improve standards, raise attainment levels and improve education leadership in schools.
Build on ministerial support to drive and oversee immediate improvements working with all stakeholders to bring about urgent changes necessary to deliver good education.
Inform parents about school performance to promote greater transparency and guidance for parents.
No intention to introduce fines for taking children out of school for holidays but will campaign to review holiday dates to provide an extra week in Spring/Autumn in the school year to benefit attainment levels and increase time spent with family.
Tamar Bridge
Lobby Government to abolish tolls on the Tamar Bridge like the Severn Bridge Crossing tolls.
City airport
Welcome planning decision to safeguard airport site and use influence to negotiate the surrendering of the airport lease held by Sutton Harbour Holdings and promote the reintroduction of airport operations in Plymouth.
Music venue
Work with private sector partners, developers, and all music lovers to bring forward plans to provide a new live music and event venue to improve cultural and music offer.
Support for start-up and small business
Establish an investment fund, via the council’s capital spending plans, to promote the creation of a vibrant small business sector in Plymouth
Period poverty
Welcome for the Government’s decision to ensure free sanitary products will be made available in all secondary schools and colleges in England from September 2019, as part of move to end period poverty.
Mayflower 2020
Strongly support this major national event and Plymouth’s specific historical role in this story.
Military Covenant
Seek to strengthen military covenant with the Armed Forces paying close attention to the on-going needs of veterans to make Plymouth a centre of excellence for veterans support.
Supporting local communities
Seek to devolve more power to local communities so local people can have a greater say in determining their priorities. Listen and act on local views.
More community lunch clubs and activities for lonely people.
Work with voluntary sector/community groups to establish a wider network of community activities.
Aim to significantly reduce social isolation and social exclusion, while improving the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of the participants.
Mutley Plain
Reinstate the 13 car parking spaces on a timed basis in Mannamead Road removed under Labour.
New toilets on the Ermington Terrace car park.
Make Mutley Barracks car park a shoppers’ car park free for three hours.
Waterfront
Continue to bring forward schemes to enhance the waterfront including lighting schemes and environmental improvements.
Play parks
Says Labour "dragging their feet", will continue to provide funding to deliver a further programme of works to bring play parks up to a very high standard.
City taxis
Engage with the taxi trade to try and come up with a better solution than fee increases proposed under Labour.
Trees
Appoint a City Tree Champion to promote tree planting and prevent the unnecessary felling of our street trees.
Cruise terminal
Support works to provide better facilities for cruise liners arriving in Plymouth in conjunction with Associated British Ports and Brittany Ferries at Millbay.
Other pledges
Promote underground refuse bins at all new build housing and commercial developments.
Continue to support Woolwell to the George road dualling scheme.
Introduce a 40-mph limit on Tavistock Road.
No congestion charge for Plymouth.
Ensure a suitable statute of first female MP Nancy Astor is in place for November 2019.
