Lewisham Council has taken a small but significant step towards implementing new parking measures in parts of Lee under the Sustainable Streets programme.
At a meeting on May 21st the Mayor and Cabinet agreed “for the Executive Director of Place to use their delegated powers to consider any objections received during statutory consultation on the permanent traffic order and make any applicable decision as a result.”
Hayley Whitchurch, the Sustainable Streets Project Officer told the Lee Manor Society: “The Mayor and Cabinet approval in May gives the Executive Director of Place the ability to approve and sign off reports regarding objections received following a statutory consultation. It also gives the Executive Director the powers to sign off or consider any changes following a review of installed measures in areas or CPZ.
“It means that we will not need to return to seek Mayor and Cabinet approval for any changes following a 6-12month review for any existing or new CPZ implemented.”
Residents on the East side of the Lee Green ward were consulted on the proposed measures. earlier this year. Lewisham Council has told The Lee Manor Society the proposals will be discussed by the Mayor and Cabinet in July.
Ms Whitchurch explained “We will not require Mayor and Cabinet approval for any areas that we review as part of the Sustainable Streets Programme.
“We have not implemented any measures in Lee Green or Phase 2 areas and therefore need to present the findings to Mayor and Cabinet which will be in July. If we implement any Sustainable Street measures in new areas (such as Lee), we will carry out a review 6-12 months after by seeking further feedback from residents and businesses via consultation. If we then propose any changes following the review, these can be considered and approved by the Executive Director of Place.”
“This sounds suspiciously as though it has all been decided but councillors and officers don’t want to own up,” said Charles Batchelor. “Officers were too frightened to come to the last (and final) assembly meeting to explain matters. .It appears that councillors, who depend on residents’ votes, are handing increasing powers over to officers who do not consider it their role to interact directly with those residents.
“Item 1.3 of the mayor and cabinet’s sustainable streets document of May 21 also refers to ‘a review of existing CPZs which the council undertook public consultation on amendments to align them towards the sustainable streets programme’. This raises the issue of the 10am-noon controls west of Burnt Ash Road being extended to all-day.”
I live in Leyland Road and a CPZ is inevitable while the work on Leegate is happening and beyond, when 640 flats have no parking spaces. A 10am – 12 ban is sufficient to stop all day parking by commuters and construction workers.
I agree with the Dorville Road resident. I I live in Burnt Ash Road, where it joins Dorville Road, and the parking is as that person says. Once contractors start demolition work on Leegate, the parking will obviously get much worse. After the building work is completed, with the no parking provided on the new Leegate site, none of us in Burnt Ash Road or Dorville Road will be able to park where we currently live. A whole – day CPZ will be the only way through.
I live in Dorville Road, very close to the junction with Burnt Ash Road, and hope that the council does introduce residents’ only parking. My road is filled with the cars of commuters who use Lee Station, people living on Burnt Ash Road – one couple park three cars – and those living in Alanthus Close who don’t want to buy a permit. During the week, there is nose to tail parking, with some cars even partially blocking driveways, making it difficult for health visitors, contractors and delivery drivers. I do have a car, but dare not use it during the week because there will be no space when I get back.
I think a CPZ is great, but not when it is all day. 10-12, as we currently have in the area around Manor Park works well to stop commuter parking. An all day CPZ means friends dropping in for a visit or carers visiting clients have to pay. Making it all day is more of a money raising for the council than a benefit to residents. (We don’t actually have a car, so no entitlement to visitor permits.)