Residents Deserve Better

Telford and Wrekin Council’s Delayed & Inadequate Response to Parking Concerns: Residents Deserve Better

Labour Led Telford and Wrekin Council - Cabinet ©️Telfordandwrekin web

Once again, Telford and Wrekin Council, under Labour leadership, has demonstrated a concerning lack of urgency, transparency, and professionalism in responding to residents’ legitimate concerns. 

This time, the issue revolves around parking bay dimensions—a matter of growing importance as the size of vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs) and wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), continues to increase, and we reported on back in May.

The Council’s delayed and dismissive handling of a straightforward Freedom of Information Request, raises serious questions about their commitment to serving the needs of the community.

A Pattern of Delays and Evasion

The saga began on 23rd May when Mark Webster submitted an FOI request seeking clarity on several critical issues, including:

The current standard dimensions for car and light van parking bays.

Whether these dimensions comply with national standards.

Plans to increase bay sizes to accommodate larger vehicles like EVs and WAVs.

Policies on penalties for oversized vehicles and dispensations for non-commercial oversized vehicles.

The Council had a statutory obligation to respond within 20 working days. Yet, it took until 6th July—14 days overdue—for a response. A reminder was sent, but the response on 21st July was astonishingly dismissive. 

Apart from a single question—“How is ‘exceeding bay sizes’ precisely defined and measured for enforcement purposes?”—the Council simply stated, “no information held.”

This evasive response prompted a request for a review, which was finally addressed on 7th August. The outcome? The Council doubled down on their earlier stance, claiming they held no recorded information to answer any of the questions.

They vaguely referenced adherence to “national guidance” and directed him to their 110-page Highways Design Guide from 2019—a document that, upon inspection, contains no relevant information about parking bay dimensions.


Technical Breaches and Unprofessional Behaviour

The Council’s handling of this FOI request appears to breach both the spirit and the letter of the law. The Freedom of Information Act is designed to ensure transparency and accountability, but Telford and Wrekin Council’s response falls woefully short. By claiming they hold no information on such a fundamental issue, they are effectively stonewalling a resident’s legitimate inquiry.

Stonewalling & Unprofessional 

Moreover, the delays and lack of substantive answers reflect a troubling pattern of unprofessional behaviour. Residents should not have to chase the Council for basic information, nor should they be met with dismissive responses when they do. This is not the standard of service that Telford and Wrekin residents deserve.

A Failure to Address Modern Challenges

Perhaps most concerning is the Council’s apparent disregard for the evolving needs of the community. The rise of EVs and WAVs is not a new phenomenon—it’s a well-documented trend that demands proactive planning. Yet, the Council seems to have no plans in place to address the increased size of these vehicles. This lack of foresight is particularly alarming given the growing emphasis on accessibility and sustainability in public policy.

By failing to provide answers—or even acknowledge the issue—the Labour-led Council is once again showing itself to be reactive rather than proactive.

This is not the first time residents have been let down, and unless things change, it won’t be the last.

Residents Deserve Better

The people of Telford and Wrekin deserve a Council that is responsive, transparent, and forward-thinking. They deserve community leaders and council officers who take their concerns seriously and work diligently to address them. Unfortunately, the current administration is falling short on all fronts.

Mark Webster’s experience is a microcosm of a broader problem: a Council that is out of touch and out of step with the needs of its residents. It’s time for a change—a change that prioritises professionalism, accountability, and a genuine commitment to serving the community.

If the Labour-led Council cannot rise to the occasion, then perhaps it’s time for new leadership that will. After all, the residents of Telford and Wrekin deserve nothing less than the best.


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