All information in relation to parking legislation that RCT is meant to abide by
Dear Rhondda Cynon Taff Council,
I would like all the information you have on the parking legislation you are meant to follow in relation to parking restrictions in Pontypridd Town Centre. The Traffic Manual set out by central Government clearly states that disabled signs amongst others have to come with road markings yet you are clearly in breach of those regulations as there are no markings whatsoever.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Ritchie
Dear Mr Ritchie
With regard to your Freedom of Information Request below, I have been
informed that court proceedings are currently ongoing and in view of
that fact, it is the Authority's belief that your request should be
dealt with not under the Freedom of Information Act/Environmental
Information Regulations but under the Civil Procedure Rules. Under
Freedom of Information laws if information is accessible by other means
then, in accordance with Section 21 of the Freedom Of Information Act
2000 (the "Act"), we are entitled to refuse your request. Therefore, in
accordance with Section 17 of the Act please accept this as a Refusal
Notice.
As you may be aware you have a right of appeal against this decision. If
you wish to exercise this right please set out in writing your grounds
and send your appeal to the Council's Corporate Feedback Co-ordinator.
Her name is Mrs. Christine Macey and she may be reached at
[email address] or on 01443 424076.
Additionally you may, if you wish, find out more about the Act from the
Information Commissioner at http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Yours sincerely
Claire
Claire Gummer
Corporate Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Rhondda Cynon Taff C.B.C.
The Pavilions
Cambrian Park
Clydach Vale
Tonypandy
CF40 2XX
Tel: (01443) 424111
Fax: (01443) 424114
Email: [email address]
Dear Gummer, Claire,
There are no ongoing court proceedings so I would like to know what you are referring to. Please supply all the information I have requested as you must do this by law.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Ritchie
THIS E-MAIL IS SENT ON BEHALF OF CHRISTOPHER JONES - SERVICE DIRECTOR
FOR LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Dear Mr Ritchie
I refer to your email requesting an internal review of your freedom of
information request.
As the Service Director for Legal and Democratic Services it falls to me
to consider such matters. I referred your email to the relevant
officers who have provided the following response:
Pontypridd Town Centre is covered by a Traffic Regulation Order known as
a 'Restricted Parking Zone'.
When implementing this Order, the Council duly adhered to the Traffic
Signs Regulations and General Directions (2002) and to guidance in the
relevant chapter of the supplementary document entitled 'The Traffic
Signs Manual'. (A copy of Chapter 3 of The Traffic Signs Manual is
attached for information).
Moreover, for the recipient's convenience, Section 13, subsection 13.3
on page 102 of said Traffic Signs Manual states: "provision may be made
for parking and loading within a zone, with bays being delineated either
by white road markings or by physical features such as block paving,
planters, bollards etc."
The parking bays in Pontypridd Town Centre are delineated by block
paving.
As you may be aware you may now, if you remain dissatisfied, appeal to
the Information Commissioner. You will find further details of the
process on his website at http://www.ico.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Christopher B. Jones
Service Director Legal and Democratic Services
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Dear Gummer, Claire,
That is completely untrue that the bays are delianated as all the council has done is placed the same bricks in a different direction. Also, I have asked for all the documentation relating to approvals for the work carried out as I completely disapprove of the layout being a blue badge user and I, along with many others cannot tell that it is a disabled parking area let alone tell where one bay ends and another one starts. It's a disgrace that you issue illegal tickets which, I proved at a tribunal and said ticket being thrown out. You are in total contravention of the road signs and traffic manual whereby it clearly states that disabled signs have to come with road markings. I would now like you to give me a reply as to why you were late with your response and only responded on here after I pointed out to you on the phone this morning that you were breaking the law by not responding within the timescale, and also why you are still withholding information as to the work that was carried out in the town centre relating to the disabled parking bays.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Ritchie
Dear Mr Ritchie
Further to your email below, I am looking into your request for copies
of documentation relating to the approvals for works carried out.
With regard to the timescales that you mention in your email, the
Authority was not late in providing a response to your requests. Your
Freedom of Information Request was submitted on 4 February 2014 and was
responded to on 4 March 2014 (20 working days). Your Internal Review
was submitted on 4 March 2014 and the deadline for this is 1 April 2014
(20 working days).
I will be in touch in due course.
Yours sincerely
Claire Gummer
Dear Gummer, Claire,
To state that you were not late in responding is nothing short of ludicrous as all you did was make up false stories regarding a court case that never was. That is not a response in my view, just a way of stalling and delaying providing the information I asked for. It is my view you were late as I dismissed that response as nothing more than stalling tactics.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Ritchie
Mark Ritchie left an annotation ()
As you can see for yourself, Claire was meant to get back to me in due course but that was over half a year ago.
Dear Gummer, Claire,
You are extremely late in responding to my request and i appreciate that you were going to look for the additional information but that was well over six months ago. Can you please now respond to my request as is required by law.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Ritchie
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Rhian Stoop left an annotation ()
I see that RCT council is yet another victim of your harassment Mr Ritchie. I have just a simple request for you. It's not covered by legislation but it shouldn't be difficult to answer. Just tell me: have you EVER received a satisfactory response to any of your many FOI enquiries? I ask this in a supportive manner.