The council has deemed that Sydenham Road and parking places in surrounding streets shall now be chargeable. £1 for 30 minutes. No return within 24 hours. I believe they are currently free for 40 minutes or something?
Meanwhile, 3-4 hours free parking at the shops down the road in the retail park.
The only real notification has been the placement of notices on posts on affected streets.
A photo someone took of one is attached. Sydenham Society on twitter are suggesting to email brenda.dacres@lewisham.gov.uk
Also without consultation. The nonsense that off street parking in Girton Road was chargeable but the high street was not is at least ended. Makes more sense to have had it the other way round.
If they don't that the anomoly of encouraging cars to drive down Sydenham Road to the Bell Green retail park goes against the expressed policies of our elected councillors to create a vibrant high street.
"The nonsense that off street parking in Girton Road was chargeable but the high street was not is at least ended. Makes more sense to have had it the other way round."
Does that mean that Girton Road car park will be free again?
Here is the 'Statement of Reasons' for imposing these changes to high street parking. I asked the Traffic Department for it using details seen on the notice posted on lampposts etc:
"In response to growing parking pressure in the Borough, the following are being proposed: conversion of all limited waiting bays to short-term pay-to-park parking bays which will encourage quick turnover of the parking bays and increase compliance which can potentially encourage more trade footfall.
There are currently 201 limited waiting bays in the Borough allowing short periods of waiting or free parking e.g., 30 mins with no return within 2 hours. The bays were designed to create accessibility and facilitate car drop in and out of high street locations to encourage ‘shop local’ and doctor’s surgeries etc. However, there have been reports of abuse by inconsiderate drivers obstructing waiting bays with all-day or long-term parking.
Providing an excess of free parking space, compelling drivers to take more car journeys even when unnecessary with the assumption that there will always be a place to park. By allowing ‘free parking’ the Council dedicates valuable kerb space to free on-street parking, perpetuating a cycle of encouraging drivers to take more trips by car rather than choosing more sustainable transport methods. This also contributes to numerous dysfunctions including vehicles idling or circling for parking which compounds emissions while putting the needs of drivers at the forefront.
It is critical that parking enforcement officer time is spent addressing residents’ concerns of obstructive and inconsiderate parking behaviour such as pavement parking, vehicle idling etc. Therefore, the Council is proposing that all limited waiting bays now be converted to short-term pay-to-park bays to eradicate ‘free’ parking and to hinder unnecessary car journeys."
They state that the change is due to reports of abuse - this suggests there is no evidence. Also it does not appear to be finance related.
Most of the reasoning could be applied to Bell Green Retail Park . Indeed rather more when it comes to encouraging car use to the detriment of congestion in Sydenham Road.
Maybe the charges received will be used to pay for enforcement costs. It appears that there was no regular monitoring or oversight of the free 40 minutes. This then allowed those 'in the know' to abuse it and local shopkeepers got no benefit.
