By Charles Batchelor
Council proposals to impose all-day parking charges on a large area of Lee have run into strong opposition from some residents and the Lee Manor Society.
The plans, forming part of Lewisham’s sustainable streets initiative, would require motorists parking in streets around Leyland Road and Woodyates Road to pay to park between 9am and 5pm.
Residents without off-street parking, would be required to buy a permit costing up to £372 a year to park on the street with no guarantee they could find a space in front of their house.
The Society says it sees no reason why the limited parking controls – between 10am and 12 noon – currently in place on the other, west side, of Burnt Ash Road cannot be applied in the new parking zone.
The limited parking controls have proved successful in deterring commuter parking while leaving residents, carers making house visits and tradesmen the convenience of parking without charge in local streets.
Yet the council is even suggesting that these more limited parking controls could be replaced by all-day restrictions in future. The council claims that parking restrictions do not cover the costs of implementation but the suspicion remains that a cash-strapped borough does see future revenues from such schemes.
“There seems to be no evidence provided by the council that local car journeys are the big threat to sustainable streets,” said Frances Migniuolo, a local resident. ” A more balanced approach is needed . The proposals do not address the needs of elderly or less mobile residents who need to shop or have family or friends visit during the day on weekdays . Doing your own shopping and having such visits are vital to staying self-reliant and healthy in older life.”
Parts of the sustainable streets programme are welcome. These include more street trees, secure cycle storage, electric vehicle charging points, safer crossings and car club bays. But the lengthy parking controls are already prompting local anger and a strong response, according to one local councillor.
The closing date for responses is Sunday, January 26 and residents are urged to send in comments to sustainablestreets@lewisham.gov.uk by then. But official closing dates have proved flexible in the past and residents will have the opportunity to express their views at the next Lee Green Assembly Meeting at 7pm-9pm on Thursday, February 6 in Lochaber Hall, Manor Lane Terrace, SE13 5QL. We understand a representative from Sustainable Streets will attend the meeting and answer questions.
“We urge residents to attend this meeting to make their views known,” said Charles Batchelor, a management committee member of the Lee Manor Society.
The formal survey form at www.lewisham.gov.uk/sustainablestreets is in a tick-box format allowing no opportunity to express detailed comments and should be supplemented with a more detailed response.