Exeter Green Party have criticised plans to build a new car park on the site of the old bus station site in the city centre. Labour-led Exeter City Council has approved a budget of £75,000 to undertake the works to construct the car park and say income from parking charges will be ring-fenced to support net zero work. However, the first years’ income will be used to cover the cost of building the car park.
Green councillor Lynn Wetenhall said:
“This is classic greenwash. Labour is looking to use a city centre car park – which will encourage more driving to the city centre, more congestion, more air pollution and emissions – to fund climate action. It makes no sense at all and is against the Council’s own climate policies. Other possible sources of funding for the Council’s net zero work have not even been investigated despite there being a good number of other options.”
At the full council meeting where the car park decision was announced, Green councillor Tess Read described funding net zero work from the building of a car park “beyond parody”. She also highlighted a failure to consider alternative uses for the site:
“There has been absolutely no attempt to consider any alternative uses for this site that might deliver as much, or more, money and deliver better economic, social and environmental value. Labour are putting the brakes on ideas and interests in the site, and plan to build a car park where Exeter should be boasting a modern covered market, green space or a play park.”
Exeter Green Party recently ran a public survey on what people wanted to see on the site, with 400 suggestions received. A market, green space and play area were the most popular suggestions.