Girton Road car park width restriction

[Rachael]

I am currently in correspondence with Lewisham Parking Services about the design of the width restriction in the lower car park in Girton Road and wondered if anyone else finds it badly designed.

I drive a larger car - not a van or a caravan, not even a large 4x4. Just something the length of a larger saloon and slightly wider. I find getting into the lower car park fine (as long as I take it slowly!) but getting out is difficult. The problem is that whatever angle I approach, I can't get head on to the exit without shunting back and forth a bit, and head on is the only way I can get past those concrete sleepers. The way they stick out at an angle is also a worry. And then the turn left into the upper car park is also difficult and if anyone parks badly up there, you can get stuck.

A simple solution to exiting the lower car park (if they don't want to move the sleepers) would be to take the two spaces immediately opposite the exit in the lower car park out of use, to give an easier approach. The lower car park is rarely full, so I don't think losing two spaces would be a problem. This won't ease the left-hand turn at the top of the ramp, but it would be a start.

Thoughts?

[marymck]

Yes I sometimes find it a very difficult manoeuvre. I'm not sure losing the two lower car park spaces opposite the entrance would be the solution, because there will always be some idiot who parks there and, as you say Rachael, there's also the problem with exiting.

I just think the Council needs to find a better solution. The current arrangement would make it impossible to hold markets or other events in the lower car park and, more importantly, blocks access for emergency vehicles.

Lewisham has a Highways Department and employs consultants and engineers - paid for from Council tax money. With all their experience and specialist knowledge, surely they can think of something better than dumping a concrete block in the entrance?

[Rachael]

It's certainly a crude solution to the problem.

Anyone else? I'll direct Lewisham to this thread if there are enough comments..

[Rachael]

I've had a reply from lewisham Parking and the meat of it is:

Girton Road car park is a free car park and is therefore likely to be well used. The design of the width restriction is to allow only smaller vehicles to use the lower section of the car park.

So if you have a larger car, don't use Girton Road. That seems to be the end of the discussion, because:

As Girton Road is a free car park the council does not have the available funds to re-design the width restriction to the lower section of the car park.

So if they bugger something up they can't fix it because the don't have the money. Well, that's just peachy.

[hairybuddha]

Are drivers of "larger vehicles" still able to use the upper part? Or does this width restriction mean the upper part is out of bounds too?

[Rachael]

Well, that's the problem. The upper car park is fine for larger cars but will fill first.

[Tim Lund]

I've had a reply from lewisham Parking and the meat of it is:

Girton Road car park is a free car park and is therefore likely to be well used. The design of the width restriction is to allow only smaller vehicles to use the lower section of the car park.

So if you have a larger car, don't use Girton Road. That seems to be the end of the discussion, because:

As Girton Road is a free car park the council does not have the available funds to re-design the width restriction to the lower section of the car park.

So if they bugger something up they can't fix it because the don't have the money. Well, that's just peachy.

And this should be a spending priority for LB Lewisham because?

[hairybuddha]

Well, that's the problem. The upper car park is fine for larger cars but will fill first.

So you are provided with free parking by the Council but you want more? And you want to use public money to provide it?

[Annie.]

Get a smaller car, or even walk?

[Manwithaview1]

Walking works for me, not had a car for years. Carer's Allowance doesn't stretch to vehicle owning.

[michael]

I'm sure Rachael deserved one of those snide remarks, but it appears to be open season.
She suggested a simple and cheap solution that would have resolved the problem of, what I understand to be, fairly ill-conceived width restriction going into the lower car park. I also assume that if there were regularly spaces in the top car park she would be using them.

I have another solution for you Rachael, don't bother trying to park in Girton Road, just go to Bell Green where car parks are fully accessible. Another satisfied customer successfully driven out of the high street.

[JRobinson]

good idea Michael, the Bell Green car park always has spaces, and it's not too far to walk back to the high street (the extra exercise will not do you any harm) or there are regular bus services.
even better is that B&Q, ToysRUs, Next etc have added another car park to use too - it's almost like a Park and Ride!

[Rachael]

Oh, you guys, you crack me up.

Tim - I don't think it's a spending priority. Can't see where I said that. Nope. Not anywhere. So, as they say in Belfast, wind your neck in. As Lewisham have said there's nothing in the budget, I'm not going to press the point. However I'm pretty sure plonking down two ancient concrete sleepers didn't cost much, and moving them to a less extreme angle wouldn't cost much either.

HB - no, I'm not asking for extra parking. I asked Lewisham if they realised the restriction they implemented is causing problems for residents. Because, you know, maybe they weren't. Not to give me extra parking, just to reinstate access to parking that already exists. They've said no. Fair enough. I think they've implemented a measure in haste and it's a shame they can't change it, but there you go.

Y'all happy now?

[Rachael]

I'm sure Rachael deserved one of those snide remarks

Which one did I deserve, Michael?