Clock House CPZ Scheme Beckenham Starts 5th October - News & Questions!

[Jon Clarke]

The ongoing CPZ (Controlled Parking Zone) saga continues this week with some roads and not all, as of this moment I'm reliably informed, receiving the Final CPZ notice and Application Form for a Residential Parking permit and Application Form for Visitors Vouchers. The start date is to be the 5th October for all three zones.

First let's get the bugs out of the way - the councillors will be reading this, so hopefully they can take appropriate action and report back quickly with binding answers.

On the Implementation Form/Map it says that if the residents would like to read the report of the important Residents Meeting of the 14th July 2009 it is on their website at http://www.bromley.gov.uk/transportprojects - this link currently just points to an error page and therefore needs fixing.

The second bug/error that needs a clear answer is that the Implementation form says ‘ Pay and Display parking bays will operate between 10.00am and 12.00 Noon, Monday to Friday. If necessary these bays can also be used by residents/visitors displaying a valid permit.’ However, the accompanying Bromley Council official application form for the Parking Permit states that under the sections ‘Condition of use for you, the permit holder’ – 5/ Parking places – A permit does not enable you to park in permitted parking zones that display signs for a zone different to that indicated on the permit, or on a yellow line waiting restriction, and not in pay and display or metered bays. I can see permit holders being ticketed by traffic wardens who don’t know about the earlier not so formal form’s lettering and then residents having to fight the payments department over it.

The third question needing answered was the assumption and what was thought was agreed at the public residents summer meeting by the councillors that the Zone 1 initial payment would be only 50% whilst the scheme runs the first 6 months before the promised re-survey – the officlal form now says it will be only discounted 40% from £75 per car to £45.

The Final point is that the rush is on, all their forms state that they need 21 days to process the Resident & Visitor permits, and as the deadline day for when traffic wardens start to patrol (hopefully) and ticket is the 5th October. As of yesterday when we received our form that gives us, hm! no spare days and today -1 day to find all the many pieces of paperwork required and sent off to the council offices for process. Why the hurry all of a sudden, there hasn’t even been any notices about road line painting? Why can’t the council do this in a mannered and timely fashion? Put the start to November?

That was going to be the final point, but one last point to make is that I’d hoped the leaflet, map, wording and forms would all be online at Bromley Council’s website, but once again they are not. Perhaps they might do this or I’ll be looking for a working scanner once again to put the docs on here for all those in and those especially on the periphery of the scheme and outside to know what’s going on.

All those points we await answers and action on.

Moving on, whether we like it or not we have a CPZ, but we were all given categorical assurances that it would be resurveyed after 6 months. So when does it start? Well the leaflet and map state ‘The scheme will be implemented in late September 2009. Information leaflets and warning letters will be issued for the first two weeks of enforcement. Full enforcement of the restrictions will commence on 5th October 2009.

The CPZ will in nearly all cases be a continuous bay type up and down the road, so one is able to park across one's front drive if one wants, but if you do within the times of the zone operation you will need to display your permit. It does also mean that you are entitled to park across someone elses driveway entrance (but hey neighbours we wouldn’t do that now would we?) , but also if you block someone in, then the traffic warden can ticket that car. (Slight issue here or question. How will the traffic warden know which permitted car across someone's drive is owned by that house owner or perhaps his friendly neighbour or a complete rogue from 5 doors away? Another one for the clarification list perhaps).

So what are the lovely costs?

Zone 1 Normal Annual Cost £75 per vehicle, Discount Cost £45, Discount Ends 30th April 2010
Zone 2 & 3 Normal Annual Cost £35 per vehicle
Visitors Permits all zones £30 for book of 15 permits (4 books per house ONLY per year) Possible cost £120 for 60 tickets!

Parking Bay Charges All Zones £2.00* The pay and display cost is for the complete hours of operation of the bay for a day or any portion therof. Payment can also be made before 10.00am.
So if you don’t buy visitor permits then get to those parking bays quick! Wonder who will park their permitted car in there and then swap it for a friend's car when the friend needs it....?

Residents over 60 get a little break – they can get Free Visitors Vouchers but must send proof when applying which can include one of the following 1/ a copy of current Freedom Pass and photo card, 2/ a driving licence (paper or photo card) (I expect they mean copy of this and the rest), 3/ letter of pension entitlement, 4/birth certificate if it shows your current name, 5/ current passport, 6/ medical card

I’ll endeavour to scan and attach or if need be type out all the blurb asap. But, if you need a permit be quick, there are several payment options and they also take cheque or postal orders made out to ‘London Borough of Bromley’.

If you need any urgent forms, questions answered, advice then here are the contact details.

Parking Permit Team
London Borough of Bromley
PO Box 313
Bromley
BR1 3GL

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.bromley.gov.uk/parking

Off to give my drive up to a needy neighbour during the day and still unhappy at how this has been so mismanaged and bulldozed through by the Council. Let the new tax begin, like we could all do with another payment for something that was once free!

Do forward this page on to your neighbours, school parents and friends, and those outside the zones.

And for the latest info for those who Twitter do follow us on http://Twitter.com/Beckenham where we bring you all the latest local news and help, answer a myriad of questions, plus add some entertainment along the way.

Cheers

JC

[Paul Sanderson,]

"Any objections to the scheme must be put in writing... Within the next six months, quoting reference ADE(TP)RP/T100/531" (Jon Clarke, 10 October)

Hmmmm, just checking: the well-publicised 'resurvey in six months' as to whether or not we residents still want our CPZ... this isn't the same thing as the written objections mentioned by Jon Clarke a few days ago is it? That is, the 'resurvey' turns out to be how many written objections were received in the six months leading to the cut-off date – and that turns out to be hardly any objections, because we thought a 'resurvey' would be more brochures and meetings and discussions, etc just like at the start of all this?

[Paul Sanderson,]

In a day's time (16 October) it'll be a month since I sent in my application for a permit to park in Queens Road. Nothing's arrived yet. Anyone else still waiting?

[marie shallcross]

It was always obvious to residents that this whole area needed to be considered as one otherwise those of us who had put up with thoughtless schoolparking and regular but occasional commuter parking would have ALL the commuter parking and the school parking - AND it seems,parking of their second cars in our road/s by some residents of CPZ roads.
That those who were bordering the CPZ were never officially informed about it - and some poor souls knew nothing until the white lines appeared! - is disgraceful considering, among other things, that we all pay council tax, and were all going to be affected.

[Alex Burn]

At the last meeting before the CPZ was implemented, the council said they did not want to cause displacement parking problems so Clockhouse Road would be permit AND pay and display.
This is not the case.

The fact that it is Permit holders only means that there are now dozens of empty places in the morning along ClockHouse Road, overflow is now going into surrounding roads like Hampden Road, where the zone ends.
I have also noticed some residents of ClockHouse Road with two cars who have only bought a permit for one, and now park the second outside the zone, again causing overflow problems (I do appreciate the cost incurred, but my point is the overflow problems).

My wife is a childminder, who has 3 under fours to look after. She used to have no problem parking outside our house. Now, due to displaced parking overflow into Hampden Road, she regularly has to park at the end of the road or around the corner which is a safety issue and makes it much harder for her to get all the children back home.

There either needs to be more pay and display parking on Clockhouse Road, and adjoining roads, or even better scrap the whole CPZ and start again making sure that everyone in the zone AND outside the zone is informed and consulted.

[Paul Sanderson,]

It's now well over a month since I applied for, and paid for, a Queens Road parking permit. Still no parking permit. Anyone else in the same boat?

[Jon Clarke]

So how do residents feel now that after the published start date they are paying to park, whilst the commuters get free parking as the Pay & Display Ticket Machines have yet to be installed, although the council had months to order and install them...?

I'm guessing that the scheme is invalid whilst parts of it are unfinished, so what are the council going to do about reimbursing residents? They are taking money under false pretences. Residents are being asked to pay for a service that is not totally implemented. I expect a whole load of legal challenges to any parking fines. I'd like tp say it's a joke, but I think it's a very serious matter. This is not how things should be done and the council should be held to account.

[John Royle]

It is unfortunate that the pay and display machines have not yet been installed, but to be honest I’m not too bothered, and I don’t feel that my money (£3 per month) is being taken under false pretences. The effect of the CPZ in Queens Road has been so dramatic that I think I am receiving excellent value for money. So what if the commuters are parking for free in the bays at the moment? They are not using resident parking spaces and the only effect is a small loss of revenue to the council.

The implementation of the CPZ has not gone entirely to plan or to timetable but I think we should consider the benefits it has brought rather than carping on about some of the more minor details that have not yet been implemented.


Jon Clarke said:

So how do residents feel now that after the published start date they are paying to park, whilst the commuters get free parking as the Pay & Display Ticket Machines have yet to be installed, although the council had months to order and install them...?

I'm guessing that the scheme is invalid whilst parts of it are unfinished, so what are the council going to do about reimbursing residents? They are taking money under false pretences. Residents are being asked to pay for a service that is not totally implemented. I expect a whole load of legal challenges to any parking fines. I'd like tp say it's a joke, but I think it's a very serious matter. This is not how things should be done and the council should be held to account.

[Jon Clarke]

Not really carping on, but when it comes to services one has to pay for, an elected body we have to put our faith in and these same people can make any rules they like and enforce them, then they should be held to account when they mismanage the processes. Whether the parking is better or worse is irrelevant, whether they are conducting the correct procedure and offering the service residents are paying for is.

Would you happily pay a colleague or tradesperson for a service or work they have not done? I don't think so. To some people the money matters. It should do to to the council.

[John Royle]

Full implementation of the parking scheme is behind schedule – but it is working and we are therefore getting what we paid for. It cannot be irrelevant that it is now easier to park in the CPZ – that is what the scheme is supposed to achieve. What is irrelevant is that commuters are getting free parking in the bays at the moment. Whether commuters decide to pay up or move elsewhere when the ticket machines are installed will probably have little effect on residents as there now appears to be ample parking space within the CPZ. I cannot see that residents are disadvantaged by commuters parking for free in the pay and display bays for another few days.

The council has missed the deadline on this issue, but work is continuing (there’s a man erecting a sign outside my house at this very moment) and the scheme is working for residents. Where’s the problem?


Jon Clarke said:

Not really carping on, but when it comes to services one has to pay for, an elected body we have to put our faith in and these same people can make any rules they like and enforce them, then they should be held to account when they mismanage the processes. Whether the parking is better or worse is irrelevant, whether they are conducting the correct procedure and offering the service residents are paying for is.

Would you happily pay a colleague or tradesperson for a service or work they have not done? I don't think so. To some people the money matters. It should do to to the council.

[Alastair Thomas]

I couldn't 'agree more - parking permit has been money well spent. Parking in Elm Road is now easy and there's been a dramatic reduction in general traffic crawling up and down the road looking for parking.

I feel very sorry for all those in Hampden Road with children and shopping who now can't park anywhere near their house. I know exactly how they feel and put up with it for years and years before this solution from the council solved the problem.


John Royle said:

Full implementation of the parking scheme is behind schedule – but it is working and we are therefore getting what we paid for. It cannot be irrelevant that it is now easier to park in the CPZ – that is what the scheme is supposed to achieve. What is irrelevant is that commuters are getting free parking in the bays at the moment. Whether commuters decide to pay up or move elsewhere when the ticket machines are installed will probably have little effect on residents as there now appears to be ample parking space within the CPZ. I cannot see that residents are disadvantaged by commuters parking for free in the pay and display bays for another few days.

The council has missed the deadline on this issue, but work is continuing (there’s a man erecting a sign outside my house at this very moment) and the scheme is working for residents. Where’s the problem?


Jon Clarke said:

Not really carping on, but when it comes to services one has to pay for, an elected body we have to put our faith in and these same people can make any rules they like and enforce them, then they should be held to account when they mismanage the processes. Whether the parking is better or worse is irrelevant, whether they are conducting the correct procedure and offering the service residents are paying for is.

Would you happily pay a colleague or tradesperson for a service or work they have not done? I don't think so. To some people the money matters. It should do to to the council.

[Paul Dando]

In the displacement.

John Royle said:

Where’s the problem?

[Tim Hudson]

CPZ _ Continuous Parking Bays:

We have a continuous parking bay in front of our driveway, that was marked out a couple of weeks ago.

In the last week we have been blocked in 4 times by cars simply parking in front of our driveway, but within the continuous parking bay. This is a proper driveway, with a drop down, gates ,garage, the full list of clues that it is indeed, a driveway!

Paul Nevard at Bromley Council has simply stated in his opinion that the problem will resolve itself and if anyone blocks us in we have to phone for parking enforcement offices. Yesterday we did just that, after two hours, no officers and then the car simply drove off, probably still unaware of the problems caused.

Is anyone else facing these problems or is it our particular position at the Beckenham Road end of Queens Road?