Shared Space Financial Farce

The much debated Shared Space in Ashford is to undergo consultation to define parking.

Surely to have a predefined area for parking negates the very premise of a shared space?!

Not to mention another enormous waste of money on consultation fees.

Consultation on the amendments begin on 1st April and will end on 23rd April.

Consultancy fees are very much an open market based on what a company are prepared to pay. Doing a small bit of research on the Internet, I discovered that it is very difficult to apportion an hourly rate for a highways consultant, but they can generally expect to earn circa £750 per hour.

This is where our council tax goes.

The shared space is contentious primarily because of its cost. 13 million is already a phenomenal amount of money when we're experiencing severe issues with potholes, apparently a lack of finances to maintain a "green waste" collection service not to mention significant drops in policing services.

I'm not saying whether I am pro or anti the shared space, but I find the kids doing parcour across Bank Street on a Saturday morning quite amusing and also find the multilayered parking on Sundays up the sides of Bank Street just as entertaining.

But I do resent the vast amount that I invest in our councils and public services being shipped out to consultants to debate the design of parking spaces on an already extortionate shared space initiative over 21 days.

I'm sure that there are a number of the unemployed in Ashford who could quite easily point out where parking bays could be marked on the road and would do the whole lot for £750.