CUMBRIA County Council has ditched its bitterly-opposed plan to bring parking machines and parking charges onto streets throughout the county.

After months of public protest, the county council announced the u-turn in a press release issued just after 7am today (November 18).

The public consultation identified a loophole and when the council sought external legal advice, it was told it could leave the authority exposed to a future legal challenge if they went ahead.

The authority, run by Labour and the Lib Dems, has been consulting on the experimental traffic orders in the last few weeks as it moved towards bringing machines in on streets like The Glebe in Bowness, and in Allhallows Lane, Stramongate, Maude Street, Gillinggate and Dowkers Lane, Kendal.

Opposition Tories lined-up to slam what it described as a 'shambles' - saying questions now need answering about how much the process has cost the cash-strapped authority in officer time, legal counsel and the consultation process.

It brings to an end nearly nine months of public protests and petitions - led in South Lakeland by the Bowness and Windermere Action Group (WaBAG).

Dr Robert Judson, for WaBAG, said it would see it there are any 'catchesl in the announcement.

He said: "Clearly the outrage by the public across the county so close to the May elections and the possibility that the on street parking charge proposal would lose them votes has had an effect on the political parties.

"WABA group are delighted by the outcome and we will now be focussing our attention on other issues that have a detrimental effect the people of Windermere and Bowness such as the price of parking in the SLDC Car Parks absolute lunatic proposals by the LDNPA such as a cable car.

"WABA Group will be continuing their complaint about the failure of CCC to properly consult on the proposal and also the contempt shown by CCC to the Petition opposing the parking charges.

"WABA Group have sent a clear message to CCC that it is the voters who are in charge not the political parties."

Cllr James Airey, leader of the opposition Tories on the county council, described the climbdown as a 'complete and utter humiliation'.

"The administration got this badly wrong," said Cllr Airey, whose party opposed the proposals from the outset.

"Questions now need to be asked about how much this failed project has cost because it will run into thousands and thousands," said Cllr Airey.

"Everyone knew they were unwanted and a bad idea and it's a pity it's taken the Labour and Lib Dem administration months to realise this."

Dr Ann Myatt, prospective Tory parliamentary candidate for the Westmorland and Lonsdale seat, also welcomed the decision - describing the charges as 'bad for business, bad for residents and bad for tourists.'

"I am pleased that the County Council has finally seen sense, listened to the overwhelming opposition of the general public and dropped these mistaken proposals," said Dr Myatt.

However, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron claimed it was behind-the-scenes political pressure from his party - along with work by the late Cllr Jo Stephenson to reduce the number of machines - which had all helped undermine the plan and contribute towards today's decision to halt the process.

The Lib Dems share power with the Labour group on the county council and effectively gave their consent to the parking meters when voting through a package of budget measures back in February.

However, Ambleside councillor Heidi Halliday publically campaigned against the machines and charges.

But Mr Farron insisted his party had not let up behind-the-scenes and that he had spoken to the county council 'weekly' about the issue 'for months'.

"This proves that campaigning works. The outcome is all that matters," said Mr Farron. "They have listened."

Asked if the process had been handled well or badly, Mr Farron replied: "None of those."

Decisions on both residents’ parking and on-street charges had been recently passed to Jim Savege, the county council's corporate director for environment and community services.

The county council statement read: "Charges for on-street parking and residents’ parking permits will not be introduced across Cumbria following a consultation that identified concerns about the inadequacy of the current enforcement regime.

"Until now most district councils have enforced on-street parking, but the county council is in the process of bringing this back in house.

"The consultation also identified a new interpretation on the use of Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to bring in charges which could have left the council open to legal challenge.

"Decisions on both residents’ parking and on-street charges had been delegated to the corporate director for environment and community services, Jim Savege, who has decided not to go ahead with new charges.

"Mr Savege said: “It is clear that there are strong concerns about enforcement in both on-street parking and residents’ permits. We agree. That’s why we’re bringing this back in house.

“The consultation also brought out concerns about the legality of Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders for the introduction of on-street parking charges. The law is less clear here so we sought additional external legal opinion. Counsel’s opinion suggests that we could be open to legal challenge and if we want to proceed we would have to consult again by means of ordinary Traffic Regulation Orders.

“I have discussed this option and the findings of the consultation with the Leader of the council and I have decided not to introduce on-street parking charges at this time.

“It has also emerged that the policies on the issuing of residents’ permits across the county have been inconsistent. This raises questions about fairness. So my decision is to keep things as they are until we can carry out a proper review,” said Mr Savege.

In the same statement, council leader Stewart Young said: “I support the director in his decisions. Having asked local people for their views on these matters, we must listen to them. Charges without robust enforcement undermine the legitimacy of the policy.”

“Whilst we can’t say that this will never come back at some stage – given the financial pressures caused by government cuts, I can say that we have no immediate plans to do so and any proposals in the future would be preceded by further public consultation.”

However, Cllr Airey, for the Conservatives, accused Cllr Young of 'hiding behind officers'. "Stewart Young needs to be big enough to say we got this wrong," said Cllr Airey.

Gary Lovatt, the Federation of Small Businesses chairman for Lancashire & Cumbria, said: "This move is hugely welcome and will be a boost to small businesses in the areas which were going to be affected. 

"These charges were never welcome and would have only deterred people from visiting our town centres, forcing them instead to out of town shopping centres and retail parks.”

“We have taken part in consultations, sat down with councillors, conducted a survey and held meetings with concerned businesses and spoken out in the media on this issue, so we feel a mix of relief and elation at the news.”

“What is key going forward is that we hold Cllr Stewart Young to his commitment that this will not be reintroduced and brought in through the back door in 12 months time.”

“We have already set up a joint working group in Barrow comprising ourselves, Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council to look at having a structured plan for the town centre, and would like to work with other areas to do the same. 

"These proposals have highlighted the lack of a joined-up approach to certain activities which needs addressing.”