George Ferguson accused of being a dictator at fiery RPZ meeting in Bristol
| Posted: March 17, 2015
Bristol mayor George Ferguson put forward a robust defence of RPZs at a meeting at City Hall
BRISTOL mayor George Ferguson was accused of being a self-aggrandising dictator in implementing the controversial residents' parking zones (RPZs).
The stinging attacks came as a 4,245-strong petition was debated at a feisty meeting of the city council - and one member of the public was thrown out by security.
But a defiant Mr Ferguson, facing calls for resignation from furious residents, defended the flagship parking policy.
After a long and, at times, repetitive session, which was likened to the film Groundhog Day by one councillor, Mr Ferguson said: "When I was elected I said I was determined to leave this city better than I found it and as much as I understand many of the concerns, I am absolutely determined I will.
"The RPZs are one part of the jigsaw which is going to make the city a better place. I want to make sure our children breathe clean air and we don't take anything off their life expectancy."
As calls of "resign" from the public gallery echoed around the chamber, he added: "I'm only in this job to make this city a better place."
One of the protesters disrupting his speech, Paul Saville, who once filmed the mayor using a four-letter word towards him, was moments later ejected from the chamber by security.
The petition was brought by Bristol businessman Mark Moran, who said the mayor and council officers were "out of control" in support for the scheme, which faced "monumental opposition".
He said: "I'm not against RPZs. This is about the whole city and not just one area. The consultation was a sham and the implementation is a joke."
He also extended his attack beyond Mr Ferguson, blaming "unelectable and unaccountable" officers who are implementing the scheme on the ground.
Councillor Hibaq Jama (Lab, Lawrence Hill) claimed some businesses on Stapleton Road had lost as much as £130,000 in takings since the scheme was introduced.
Cheered on and gesturing to the public gallery during the closing part of her speech, she told Mr Ferguson: "These people will not forget when you go for re-election."
Mark Weston, Conservative group leader and councillor for Henbury, said he was an RPZ sceptic but supported the concept so long as there was a proper consultation.
He compared the debate to the recurring events of Groundhog Day, saying it had been repeated again and again since the mayor introduced his policy.
"We are two years on from the start now and this is continuing as a cantankerous sword in our civil gut," he said. "This is not a one size fits all scheme. Surely we can tailor RPZs to better reflect businesses' and residents' needs?"
Charles Lucas, (Con, Clifton), defended the scheme in his ward, saying: "I accept there are issues but the silent majority of residents in Clifton want the scheme."
He went on to praise contractors for the way the "complicated" scheme had been rolled out, triggering jeers from the public gallery.
Gary Hopkins, leader of the Lib Dem group, which introduced the city's first RPZ before the mayor came into power, called the new schemes an unfair "tax", adding: "I'm not against the principle; I'm just absolutely opposed to the way this has been done."
Before the debate had started in earnest, the public had their say.
David Newman criticised the mayor for the way the zones have been rolled out, calling him a "self-aggrandising, delusional dictator who is imposing his deep and damaging policies on Bristol".
Robert Duxbury added: "I have found the process and the administration of democracy not fit for purpose."
Both statements were followed by loud cheers from the packed gallery.
Speaking in favour of the scheme. June Burrough said: "I think RPZs are a brilliant thing for the Green Capital because it reduces traffic and makes the air cleaner. I think it is a shocking waste of time and energy to repeal it."
Her statement was also followed by applause in the gallery.
In response to a statement from Daph Muir, Mr Ferguson said: "What amazes me is that Bristol is one of the last serious cities in the country to roll out RPZs but we are acting like we are the first."
46 comments
Fight back against the lunatic!!! http://tinyurl.com/q2swant
@matafuk That's quite a long walk between Clifton village and the nearest free parking. I reckon most commuters will look for alternative ways of getting to their places of work. I cant imagine the people who live in the RPZ areas will care what the commuters will do, just so long as they're not clogging up their streets
just as Marcus implied I am stunned that any body able to profit *8887 in 4 weeks on the internet . visit the website.......http://tinyurl.com/k8efgbz
Burt, maybe you were watching a different debate to me? I heard Mark Moran and others (notably Cllr Jama) present a number of facts, including the sums of money that traders are reporting losing since these schemes were introduced, and the results of various surveys into public opinion on RPZ schemes. Far more facts than those who claim with no evidence whatsoever that there is a "silent majority" who are in favour. I also can't recall any personal abuse that Mark directed towards the mayor. Perhaps I've forgotten it, but the worst I heard was him saying that the mayor "is not a detail man", which I think was actually a quote from George himself. He actually spoke out against people who just jump up and down shouting "you're wrong, you're wrong", and proposed an alternative scheme. The problem as I saw it wasn't that George refused to respond in kind, it was that he refused to engage at all!
I had a brief look at the comment section on here from around the time of the election... Tumbleweed. Very little comment. Why is there so much interest suddenly and where were you all when it mattered? I am so intrigued by the level of red arrows from the multiple account holders, just remember that in the next election you will only get 1 vote. Your dog can't vote, and people from outside Bristol can't vote.
i don't know about anyone else but i see a post by burtthebike and automatically vote it down without reading it lol
burtthebike I think you will find the Mayor is a master a personal insults and that he, in fact, started the fight with his outrageous dismissal of and derision for anyone who has the temerity to question anything he does. There are a number of apologists for him out there, you being one, but does it not actually occur to you that the reason for all of the negative noise around the Mayor is due to the unpopularity of what he is doing? Yes, always a % of people will agree but the vast majority, using whatever measure you wish to, do not agree. And yes, the word logic was deliberately used to draw attention to the fact that there is very little in these, and other, plans by this Mayor and his unelected, unaccountable officials.
I've just submitted myself to the rather masochistic experience of watching this debate on the council's website. While the mayor is insulted and called quite incredible names, he responds with courtesy and refuses to indulge in personal attacks. If these protesters had a reasonable case, then they would be able to make it using facts and logic, but most of their case is just personal abuse, heaped on someone who has done more for Bristol than all of them put together. Both David Newman and Mark Moran made unwarranted, unjustified attacks which were bordering on slander, and both made their case look ridiculous. The same thing happened on Radio Bristol earlier this week when they discussed the issue, with a number of anti RPZ campaigners calling in just to insult the mayor. This level of personal abuse may get a few cheap cheers from petrol heads, but it makes those doing it look as if they have no case, otherwise they would be able to make it sensibly, logically and without resorting to insults. They merely make themselves look foolish and vindictive, and they persuade many people that the RPZs must be worthwhile if the people attacking them are so bitter and personal. Mr Moran in particular, who frequently mentioned the word "logic" spends half his time insulting the mayor instead of making his case. Shame on you Mr Moran, and credit to the mayor for refusing to respond in kind. If ever there was any doubt about RPZs, those opposing them will have made up many people's minds in favour of them.
Bristol born & bred, fed up with big party politics giving nothing to our great city. We now have a glimpse of the arena (yes lots of hurdles to go yet I'm sure). It was worth voting for GF for that alone. Some of the utter drivel and stats on here is mind boggling. I know a few that voted for GF all bristolians, a builder, a gardener, a factory worker. These people bothered to vote about our city. Perhaps you should have voted too.
Excellent post Matafuk0. Unfortunately many people are just too ignorant to realise this or their hatred of the car blinds them from thinking rationally. Just look at old corncups for that!