6 September - Another divided CPZ
The feature on
the parking free for all in Alsike Road caused by a combination of
Elizabeth line commuters and no parking restrictions provoked similar comments from elsewhere
and one in particular was close to home so it was easy to take a look.
The allegation is that at the weekend, indeed from 1 p.m.
on a Friday to 11 a.m. on the following Monday, the AW
Controlled Parking Zone allows holiday makers and daily tourists to park their
cars there for free while taking a direct train into London, Reading or Luton,
the result being that residents who go shopping by car cannot get home again.
Evidence was supplied that Councillors
and the MP have been involved in a current, maybe small, campaign,
to extend the restricted hours to 5:30 and the weekend but
have achieved nothing. No great surprise as a little research reminded me that there
was a public consultation on fixing the problem in 2023 by extending the CPZ
hours of operation and the same Councillors had fought against it.
There were four petitions against it and more than 100 objections. The Council backed down.
My photographic reconnaissance mission just before 11 yesterday morning revealed
some parking congestion on Overton Road, but whether by residents’ cars or train
travellers I cannot tell. Alsike Road being free of all restrictions was packed
solid but on the other side of the railway line in Fendyke Road there was no obvious problem,
It may be that the current complaints are the result
of the not very bright people in Bexley’s Highways Department applying the
same rules to two very disparate areas, like they have in the AW1 zone in
which I live. In half the zone the restrictions are welcomed and in the other half hated.
In Overton Road there is no off-street parking for residents and in Fendyke
Road there is. You can tell how bright the Highways people are by looking at
their response below to a request to have the CPZ hours extended to 5:30
including Saturdays. Their lack of comprehension skills led them to request
that illegal parking was reported on line.
Overton, Alsike and Fendyke Roads, all in the same Controlled Parking Zone.
Nearer
to home we still have GJ06 OEB appearing to exploit
some sort of
permit loophole Monday to Thursday and the lack of weekend restrictions in AW1 attracting Lesnes Abbey visitors at the weekends.
One interesting development is that the leaseholder for the flats have
taken action against the commuters who steal residents’ parking places. They
have appointed a parking contractor to monitor the situation. I hope it doesn’t
displace them on to my drive as used to be the case.
Coptefield Drive attracts Abbey visitors at the weekend.
Council response to request for CPZ amendment. Comprehension skills zero.
2023 Consultation result.
2023 objections.