Ben Fitter-Harding defended his proposals, insisting that “the goal is not to declare war on motorists, but to to make it easier'
Cathedral City Council leader lost his seat after his proposals for a “crazy” traffic filtering scheme sparked a violent Tory uprising.
Ben Fitter-Harding said it was “an honor to serve” and he wished “all the best” to the new administration of Canterbury City Council as the Liberal Democrats took both seats in the Chestfield constituency.
The conservative politician has been widely criticized for his controversial plans. to reduce congestion by preventing people from driving directly from one area of the city to another.
Residents and tourists will face as-yet-undisclosed fines for crossing borders using automatic number plate recognition cameras, unless they venture into a new ring road that will turn some one-mile trips into 10 miles.
Some rebellious conservatives warned that a plan to carve up the narrow cobbled medieval town of 43,000 would force them out in local elections in May.
Former Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg also weighed in. concerns, calling the idea “crazy” and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage called the plan a “climate change lockdown.”
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Mr Fitter-Harding defended his proposals, insisting that “the goal is not to declare war on motorists, but to make life easier.”
Acknowledging the loss of his seat on Friday, he tweeted: “It was an honor to serve. All the best to the new administration, whatever form it takes – you have an incredible council with brilliant officers, there is no limit.
In 2019, the Conservatives won 23 seats on Canterbury City Council, while Labor won 10 , and the Liberal Democrats six.
But a Tory defection from the movement's plan earlier this year saw the breakup of the majority of the party as four council members defected to the new Independent Serve to Lead Group (ISLG).
Rebel Ashley Clarke, who was a member of the -on Fitter – Harding's Conservative cabinet had previously ridiculed the plan as “a utopian dream” and “too radical.”
I think there will be problems. We need to break the endless chain of “build houses, need infrastructure, so build more houses” – the southeast has really suffered,” he told The Telegraph.
“I think it will have a noticeable effect (in the election), of course, in Canterbury. I haven't met a lot of people who support it.”
“Lost the plot”
Colin Spooner, another rebel, said: “This is a crazy idea – a leader who lost the plot, in my opinion, is trying to realize what there is in the Belgian city of Ghent, but Canterbury is not at all like Ghent, no one needs it.
“There is political confusion in implementing this and the Conservatives will not control Canterbury after May. I believe that the conservatives from top to bottom – from the central government to the local government – are absolutely ruined.”
The city currently has an unfinished ring road, which means that the council wants to build thousands of houses to help in financing the £163 million bypass road.
Residents are questioning the practicality of the zones, such as how one can shop on a bicycle, especially when different supermarkets are scattered throughout the city, or how the roundabout the road will cope with every high school located in the same zone, or how the elderly can rely on buses that do not run in the evenings or on weekends.
Advisors also argue that the pollution argument underlying plan will collapse in ten years. after petrol and diesel cars are banned in 2030.
The consultation should report its findings after the May election in accordance with the guidance. Council members claim that the draft plan, published in October, was known to them in just 24 hours.
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