Exeter Green Party have slammed the Labour-led City Council for a decision to create a temporary car park on the old bus station site [1]. A survey run by Exeter Greens to which 270 people responded found no appetite for a car park [2], with residents instead calling for a range of creative ideas for the space including a market square, a space for small local businesses to showcase Devon produce and a small green space in the city centre.
Despite having decided on a temporary car park, the Labour-run Council is planning a further online consultation on the idea as part of wider consultation on the city centre strategy. Exeter Green Party is calling for a more in-depth consultation with core city centre stakeholders.
Green Councillor Lynn Wetenhall said:
“It appears only Exeter Labour wants a car park on this site, but as a result of pressure from Green councillors they are now going to consult on its future. The city centre has plenty of parking spaces available already and building more goes against the Council’s own policies of encouraging active travel, public transport and reducing air pollution. InExeter, the organisation that represents city centre businesses, is also against a temporary car park on this site [3]. They are calling for a more ‘nuanced’ and meaningful consultation with city centre organisations of all kinds.”
Thomas Richardson, the Green County Council Candidate for the area, added:
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a prime city centre site into something the people of Exeter actually want. Our own survey shows residents in Exeter have a wide range of creative ideas for the site including a market square or commercial space to showcase local businesses, a city park or plaza, a children’s play park and an arts or performance space.”