Tag: CPZ

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Plans to extend controlled parking across Lee approved

Lewisham’s mayor and cabinet have approved plans to extend their Sustainable Streets initiative – involving permit-only parking, street trees and electric vehicle charging points – to streets to the east of Burnt Ash Road. Only three streets are mentioned in the plans given the green light on July 9 although the original proposal unveiled in February covered all the streets on the Dorville Road side of Burnt Ash Road.

Streets referred to in the council plans are Burnt Ash Hill, Cambridge Drive and Upwood Road with no mention of Leyland Road, Dorville Road or Carston Close. In addition, council traffic planners seem to think Burnt Ash Hill, which runs from the south circular to the Lee station bridge, continues all the way to the Lee Green crossroads.

No mention is made of the length of time for which parking restrictions would apply but the changes will be made by extending the existing Lee Green controlled parking zone, covering much of the Lee Manor conservation area, the mayor and cabinet said. Permit parking in this controlled parking zone (CPZ) run from 10 am to 12 noon Monday to Friday suggesting these timings will apply to the east of Burnt Ash Road.

The original plans for the sustainable streets initiative east of Burnt Ash road suggested imposing parking controls from 9 am to 5 pm which apply in some other CPZs. The Society had objected to any such move on the grounds it would make life difficult for carers and tradesmen and the residents themselves.

Consultation of residents in the half-dozen separate CPZ zones that cover Lee showed a general resistance to any extension of the time period covered by parking controls. There was strong support for tree planting and safer crossings and junctions with moderate support for cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.

Once sustainable measures are installed they will be subject to review after six to 12 months by council officers, not by councillors or the mayor and cabinet. Council officers failed to turn up to a planned meeting with residents in February and refused a Society offer to arrange an alternative meeting.

If the council has confused Burnt Ash Hill with Burnt Ash Road then controls would apply between the Lee station bridge and the Lee Green crossroads. What is not clear is if this would include the narrow parallel road between Leegate and Dorville Road. The Society called for controls on parking alongside the avenue of mature trees along this road to prevent damage and compaction of the soil. No reference is made in council’s paperwork to this issue though tree planting and presumably care is a cornerstone of the sustainable streets policy.

Sustainable streets aims to improve air quality and road safety, reduce noise and traffic congestion and make neighbourhoods greener and healthier by reducing car use. The council wants 80 per cent of all journeys to be by cycle, walking or public transport by 2041. Fifty-five per cent of Lewisham’s streets are covered by CPZs, one of the lowest levels of any London borough.

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Sustainable Streets Team refuse to meet Lee Green residents to explain their parking restriction plans

Lewisham Council’s Sustainable Streets team has rejected the invitation from the Lee Manor Society to attend its next meeting, so it can brief residents directly about its proposals for new parking restrictions.

The Society invited the team to attend after they failed to turn up at the final Lee Green Assembly meeting last month, to the fury of residents who attended. The team is conducting consultations in three areas, Lee Green, Hither Green and Catford South.

It told the Society “We understand the importance of engaging with the community and apologise that officers were not available to attend the meeting on 6-Feb, but were able to provide a written briefing prior to the meeting.

“Unfortunately, our officers are not able to attend a further public meeting outside of the original scope of consultation which has now ended, and staff are now utilising the time to analyse the numerous responses received. We understand the level of interest from residents who have been consulted and intend to publish the outcome of the consultation for the Mayor and Cabinet committee meeting in May where a decision will be taken on the future direction of this scheme.”

The reply went on to outline their plans, which included possible Controlled Parking Zones between 9 AM and 5 PM Monday to Friday. . “The aims of the proposed scheme are to improve amenities for residents, along with additional added value measures such as more secure cycle storage, electric charging options, more greenery and to ensure residents can park closer to their homes. All such measures would introduce double yellow lines to junctions to allow better visibility and improve road safety.”

The team added “Please let the residents know that we are taking their concerns seriously and are committed to ensuring that their voices are included in the decision-making process.”

Charles Batchelor of the Lee Manor Society said “The failure of the council’s sustainable streets team to agree to a meeting with local residents is disappointing but not surprising. All too often in the recent past – Leegate being but one example – local views are completely ignored under the council’s formal consultation process.

“The sustainable streets programme, as currently planned, would see parking controls imposed throughout weekdays from 9am to 5pm at considerable inconvenience to residents, visitors, carers and tradespeople. The two-hour parking controls in effect on the west side of Burnt Ash Road have proved very effective in stopping parking by out-of-town commuters with a minimal impact on the lives of residents.

“The proposed all-day ban Monday to Friday under the present proposals appears to reflect an ideological commitment to controlling car use rather than any understanding of local parking and driving patterns. Or any concern for the views and convenience of local residents, the people this council is supposed to serve.

“A further ‘statutory consultation’  is due in the summer. Unfortunately ‘statutory’ tends to mean ‘we don’t want to do it but we are legally obliged’. Once plans have got that far the council is reluctant to change anything. The Society will nevertheless continue to press for a face-to-face meeting with the traffic planners.”

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Lee Manor Society Challenges Sustainable Streets Team to Attend a Public Meeting

Lee Manor Society has challenged Lewisham Council’s Sustainable Streets team to meet residents and explain its plans for new parking restrictions and other measures.

The team was meant to speak at the final meeting of the Lee Green assembly earlier this month, but failed to turn up. At least 60 people had attended the meeting to find out more details about the proposals, which include possible all-day Controlled Parking Zones, Monday to Friday.

The Society has suggested the team could attend its next meeting on Thursday March 13th (7.30 pm at St Peter’s Church Hall). If that is not possible, the Society will arrange another date.

Since the end of the Assembly programme it falls to community groups like the Lee Manor Society to arrange face-to-face events where important local issues can be explained and debated.

Charles Batchelor’s letter says: “This is a matter of vital importance to the local community. Residents deserve a proper explanation of what is planned and why this particular format – full-day parking controls, extensive yellow-lining – has been chosen.

“Lewisham council does not have a good name when it comes to connecting with residents and the failure – at very short notice – of an officer to attend on February 6 has only strengthened that impression.

“I understand our local councillors, who it appears were as surprised as residents at the failure of sustainable streets to turn up on February 6, have contacted you to request a meeting.”

If you wish to encourage the Sustainable Streets team to attend, please leave a comment. You can also email Sustainable.Streets@lewisham.gov.uk or

martha.lauchlan@lewisham.gov.uk or timothy.andrew@lewisham.gov.uk

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Lewisham Received 4,000 Responses on Parking Restriction Proposals

Photo for illustrative purposes.

Lewisham Council has provided more information about its plans for new parking restrictions, including possible all-day Controlled Parking Zones Monday to Friday, in five wards including Lee Green.

The Council has told the Lee Manor Society it received more than 4,000 responses to the second stage of its consultation, covering Brockley, Lee Green, Hither Green, Catford South and Telegraph Hill. These were the wards where residents highlighted that they experience commuter parking pressures or issues with pavement parking.

The second stage of the consultation ended on February 3rd.  The Council said a report was now being prepared to go to the Mayor and Cabinet in May, setting out recommendations, including whether or not to proceed to implementation and where.

The Council told us: “Where Mayor and Cabinet decide to proceed to implementation, there will be a further statutory consultation in the summer. This would involve all residents and businesses in the area receiving leaflets with information about the proposals via post, in addition to promotion through the Council’s various communications channels. Residents/businesses can respond to the consultation online or on a paper form.”

The Council said it does not have any estimates of what the income of each scheme would be, as it is still processing the feedback from the recent consultation in order to make more concrete proposals.

Its statement stressed “Our Sustainable Streets programme aims to create better streets for residents, reduce the number of car journeys made in Lewisham and encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport.

“With unrestricted parking on 75% of our roads – the highest of any inner London borough – improving parking management and introducing more sustainable transport measures are both crucial for reducing the number of unnecessary car journeys and tackling traffic, congestion, and pollution.

“Income from parking permits is ring-fenced by legislation to fund transport and highways projects. In Lewisham, we are using the income to subsidise concessionary travel, such as the Freedom Pass, for older and disabled people (though it does not meet the full cost of these services).”