PLANS to create a series of “advisory car share spaces” in several of Driffield’s car parks have been branded as an unworkable waste of time by the town council.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is proposing to install two car share spaces in each of Driffield’s three main car parks.
Car sharing is when two or more people share a car and travel together.
Its aim is to help motorists save money on petrol and parking, while reducing traffic congestion and pollution and letting drivers help to improve the East Riding environment.
ERYC has teamed up with another organisation to launch EastRidingCarShare.com which allows people to find car share drivers and passengers online instantly and securely.
ERYC wrote to the town council to explain that six car share spaces were proposed for Driffield - two each at Beckside, Cross Hill and Eastgate.
Dean Edwards, of ERYC’s traffic and parking section, said: “Where the new spaces are installed in pay and display car parks, parking fees will continue to apply to vehicles which are using the care share spaces.
“The spaces will be located in convenient areas and their aim is to help reduce congestion and cut pollution by encouraging the practice of car sharing.”
After a period of consultation ERYC said it was now in a position to begin installing the car share bays.
But the town council hit out at the scheme, branding it an unworkable waste of money.
Coun Mark Blakeston questioned how the use of car sharing spaces would be monitored and how anyone would know whether the driver parking in such a space had been sharing a vehicle.
“How would you police it? It’s beyond me,” he said.
Coun Neal Pearson questioned whether a badge scheme would operate and whether people who parked in the car sharing spaces without a badge would face a fine.
“I suspect that it is a money making scheme,” he said.
Town Councillors said they were against the scheme and ventured to suggest that it would be better if the ERYC spent the money earmarked for the project on mending potholes in the area’s roads and pavements.
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