What would be the best way to sort the overparking in Beckenham?

[Jon Clarke]

We've got plenty on the site about how the CPZ will operate, been set up etc, by a council that hasn't actually ventured into a dialogue with the community and has only one idea, or traffic mandate to uphold.

So let's start a thread where us the residents address the problems both on a micro and macro level. Who knows better the needs, both individual and as a community than us the residents who live, work, school, socialise etc here. We are being asked to pay to park or have a friend park on our roads, so why not see what we would come up with. The councillors might be a little better informed.

The problem is not simple. But perhaps small measures in individual roads could work for everyone. Those rowes of houses with no off road parking get a continuous residential parking bay, those with drive ways get to park across their own. Those with 3 cars and no space get a deferred parking space in their road. And those road spaces where there are no houses fronting on them are turned into pay and display, dual use of course, badge wielding residents are free, commuters £2 charge. More fine tuning, unlimited daily paid parking tickets made available. Any carless house and those who need support/run a small business are given free permits.

If enough unused neutral space can be identified and used then commuters, office workers, etc could be directed to these. Creating less overspill.

The biggest future change is that the council only allow planning for high density housing and public services that provide adequate parking. Perhaps more costly for developers, but private businesses should not be subsidised by the residents.

Post your ideas below, and lets see if we can sort this out with a bit more thought than other parties have given it. For all those outside the proposed areas, chip in too, it's sure to affect you in the future and it's an open discussion for all, car owner or not. A few replies from commuter and office workers would be helpful too.

[Duncan]

How about turning one of those unfinished blocks of flats on Beckenham Road into a multi story car park?

[Paul Miller]

Or.... turn the unused (well underused) multistorey car park behind the Civica building into a public one? Or get Networtk Rail to use some of their land at Elmer's End station and turn it into commuter parking? Or utilise the big car park at the Spa? Allotments seem to be a bit of a waste of space in this day and age, and there are acres of them near the CPZ (let's wait for the gazzillions of complaint about this one - but I'm not totally unserious, converting land use should be something on the agenda). Isn't there some derelict land where the old Churchfield School was near Blandford Avenue? I'm sure we could come up with loads of space that could be used to stack cars during the day and we've not even started to move more than a few hundred yards from the Stations.

[C Andrew]

Excellent discussion there is always more than one way to deal with the problem. Some suggestions below.

Utilise the space available more effectively

•Spa Leisure Centre Car Park – only two thirds of the car park is used during the week days. Could these spaces be offered to commuters at a minimal price. Let’s say two thirds of the spaces are provided to commuters on weekdays between 07:30 – 18:30. The Spa makes a nice little profit and commuters have somewhere to park nearby. Most Spa users are evening and weekend users so the use of space wouldn’t clash and there is still adequate parking for Spa users during the day. The price would need to be minimal as I’m sure most commuters are driving to our area to park for free to reduce the cost of their season ticket, therefore the cost of parking may overtake what they save on their season ticket and the problem just moves somewhere else or doesn't change from what we experience now. You will still get some commuters trawling the streets trying to get a free space, but most would hopefully see the car park as an easy option.

•The grassy area and wide pedestrian footpath at the bottom of Blandford Road could be converted to residents parking in the CPZ (not P&D!). Would certainly alleviate the severe parking problems on Blandford Road / Churchfields Road.


Reduce reliance on the car

•Have the Capita Building developed a travel plan? If not why not? They have extensive parking out the back but still workers use our streets to park their car. Why are workers not being encouraged to travel to work by public transport where it is feasible to do so? Public transport connections are pretty good – two train stations, tram stop and various bus routes within a short walking distance.

•Have a car sharing scheme set up – maybe have the allocated parking space within the new flats on Beckenham Road? These schemes have really taken off in other parts of London and it may persuade some people torethink their need for a second car. Everyone has different needs – this won’t be suitable for everyone – but may even be cheaper if that second car isn’t used too much. This would reduce the number of vehicles on our streets.


I'm sure there are other options. Has anyone engaged in a conversation with SE trains. After all its users of their service which causes us problems. What are they prepared to do to alleviate the situation.?

[Paul Miller]

Of course, the problem with car sharing schemes is that they are difficult (well, impossible) to have in the CPZ. Car clubs and the like can't park in the zone as the user might not be a resident and they have loads of cars which move around all over the place. Unless there are specific "Car Club" spaces to put them and the car club somehow joins the scheme then they are just not going to work.

I'm still of the opinion that the Spa car park is woefully underused and would be perfect for communter parking during the day (if they get the rates right).

Paul