EDITORIAL: Park & Ride- what are the real issues?

Public submissions have now closed but there is still the opportunity to contact council and request your three minutes during the public forum.

As well, there is a petition at Yass Newsagency. And, of course, you can submit a letter to the Tribune, or comment on our website or Facebook page.

We've already received lots of opinion on this development - on and off the record.

And, frankly, we're undecided.

As many good reasons that exist to support the proposal, there seem just as many good reasons not to go ahead.

The Tribune prefers not to sit on the fence - and we've previously not been backward in coming forward over controversial local issues - but this is a tough one.

One question we think needs to be considered is will the Park & Ride actually reduce the number of cars commuting on the Barton Highway each day?

We have seen no research to support that theory. It will be great if it does but we remain sceptical. We haven't received complaints from bus commuters saying they can't find a car park.

Still, perhaps it is an investment for future commuters. Again, it would be great to see the research providing some evidence of that.

Then again, finding a park on or around the main street during peak times is becoming harder by the day.

If it's an issue about main street car parking, then alternative spaces could be investigated, such as the old IGA site behind the Club House Hotel.

If it's an issue about reducing cars on the Barton Highway, then some evidence that it will do that would be helpful.

There is much for councillors to consider.

Our hope is simply that they go to next Wednesday night's council meeting after having listened carefully to residents - and with their minds not already made up.