Parking problems

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Bunty
Posts: 198
Joined: 11 Jul 2013 17:49

Parking problems

Post by Bunty »

I am slowly turning into Victor Meldrew as I battle to find a space near my house, or reluctantly vacate a treasured space to run an errand or go to work! I am hoping my post here will alleviate my frustrations/annoyance/anger I constantly feel about parking anywhere near my front door. I know this can be a contentious topic but I am raising it again in the hope something is done to sort out the problem. I live on the Newlands Park end of
Tredown Road and have done for 4 years. When I moved here parking was not a big issue. There was always a space very close to my house. Acceptable. This passed year the problem has become untenable, for me anyway. Commuters now park on this road as well as NP and Homecroft. Local workers, I.e. Estate agents also use the local roads as their personal car park. I have a daily battle to park near my house, constantly having to park so far away. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this or am I a lone Victor? I desperately want the council (Lewisham or Bromely) do make this area permitted. We only have one car in our whole house of 3 flats and i need it for my work. Yet this daily battle just causes me so much bloody angst every time I come home late or come home with heavy bags etc. yesterday I had to cart my garden waste half way up Wiverton to get I the car. I may as well have carried on walking to the dump! Rant over. For now. :x
_HB

Re: Parking problems

Post by _HB »

You should petition Lewisham to put in a CPZ in your street. They're often quite amenable as long as there is support among the residents.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Parking problems

Post by Eagle »

Bunty

I know this area very well and can appreciate your problem. Especially since the new Line parking spaces have got fewer and fewer .
I know Homecroft especially and you could usually get a spot at the bottom but that is even difficult nowadays.

I know you will not appreciate it but too many people own cars in an area not built for cars. Even installing a CPZ you might find you have it no easier , but I suppose could not be any worse.
_HB

Re: Parking problems

Post by _HB »

Do a survey and find out. I've done something similar in a friend's street in Camberwell. Turned out only about 50% of the cars in the street were residents.

Although we didn't manage to get the CPZ because the neighbours didn't want it. Idiots.
Willy
Posts: 236
Joined: 22 Feb 2007 15:07
Location: Sydenham

Re: Parking problems

Post by Willy »

It's a problem anywhere near a station. While I don't generally mind people parking and commuting I have noticed a worrying trend in people parking in the most stupid places - the junction with Newlands Park and Westbourne Road is getting silly, cars are often parked on the curved part where the tw roads meet. Some yellow lines here and some enforcement would be good.
Bunty
Posts: 198
Joined: 11 Jul 2013 17:49

Re: Parking problems

Post by Bunty »

I have done some curtain twitching research.... The houses directly opposite and next to me are a mix of house and flats. Out of c18 homes there are only 7 cars! So it's not too many residents. It is commuters and businesses. I am going to write a neighbourly letter and see what I get back... I personally favour permits.
_HB

Re: Parking problems

Post by _HB »

It's extremely selfish behaviour. You are being asked to pay the external costs of commuter behaviour.

Speak to your neighbours and see if you can get some support together for a CPZ with residents exemptions. It should be the default in all the streets around the station.

Good luck!
coll
Posts: 192
Joined: 17 Oct 2007 15:55
Location: sydenham

Re: Parking problems

Post by coll »

I've been wanting to write about this for a very long time but know its a difficult subject.

Here's what I drafted months ago:
Is it time to talk about parking on our area?

Firstly, apologies for this post. This is my first post but I do read and keep up with what is going on in the area. I am also aware that discussion of cars on this forum can be fraught.

Over the past year I have noticed an increase of people parking in this area. I have seen that many are people who park and walk to the station. I have also seen what appears to be a company parking large amounts of Ford Focuses around which makes me wonder what is going on. All of these Fords have the same air freshener hanging from the mirror, all are completely empty and they will appear quite suddenly parked one after the other and be around for several weeks then vanish for a week and then reappear. I understand that SG Smith park loaner cars as well as their staff cars in the area, particularly in the Thorpes. I often see Enterprise rental vehicles sitting taking up spaces on the residential streets. This has meant that the roads have become very clogged. I also know several of the owners of businesses on Sydenham Road, and a wholesale flower company with large white trucks that take up several spaces each, all park their cars here daily rather than use the public lot. Clearly now, I am not the only one who has noticed this.

I have also noticed along Silverdale that, not only, are there more cars parking but, some pretty interesting liberties are being taking as to what constitutes a parking space. I have seen entrances to housing estates partially blocked and other inventive ways of leaving the car to head to the train. As a result I’ve also seen a phenomenon of local residents putting their bins out on the street to reserve “Their” parking spot. While I can grasp that many are attempting to stop commuters from clogging the streets, it makes me wonder... if I live on the same road am I meant to park my car several streets away from my house so to preserve someone else’s presumed personal parking space?

Lastly, in the past few months there has been a huge increase of mini-cabs parking in the Thropes. They use to park up and down Mayow road. Apparently there has been a change of law so the can park up anywhere. Still, they park at the corners on double yellow. Often blocking the ability to pull out safely. I mentioned this to a few of the drivers as I was trying to get past. The shrugged and dismissively and slightly aggressively said they were all picking someone up the house they were parked near. However, they are there every single day.


I am well aware that as these are not resident only streets and that anyone who wishes can park is legally entitled to. However, it is when the local streets begin to get very congested. I wouldn’t advocate applying for permit only parking but I am wondering if there is anyone else who has noticed this and if there is anything to be done?
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Parking problems

Post by Eagle »

One thing a CPZ will do , if properly enforced , would restrict the number of places by maybe a third. Each place will be marked out and there would be a long gap at end of road .

I do wonder why any Council short of money does not impose fee on all street parking. I know historically this has been free , but I wonder why , the road outside your property does not belong to the resident

Bunty good luck with your Neighbourhood Consultation. I wonder if any Newland Parkers are also using Tredown ????
stuart
Posts: 3635
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Re: Parking problems

Post by stuart »

coll wrote:I have also seen what appears to be a company parking large amounts of Ford Focuses around which makes me wonder what is going on. All of these Fords have the same air freshener hanging from the mirror, all are completely empty and they will appear quite suddenly parked one after the other and be around for several weeks then vanish for a week and then reappear.
Exactly the same here with the air freshener. Except this being Upper Sydenham - we usually get BMWs! Absolutely bare inside like a showroom car. Not like ordinary parked cars. It is clearly somebody running a car business at our expense and inconvenience.

Where are those little brats who let down tyres when you need 'em :twisted:

Stuart
_HB

Re: Parking problems

Post by _HB »

Is there appetite for getting a campaign together, with the backing of Sydenham.org to highlight these issues to the Council and try to get something done?

These issues are London wide and there are lots of other groups tackling similar problems with some success.
stuart
Posts: 3635
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Re: Parking problems

Post by stuart »

_HB wrote:These issues are London wide and there are lots of other groups tackling similar problems with some success.
Links HB?

Stuart
Robin Orton
Posts: 3380
Joined: 9 Sep 2008 07:30
Location: London SE26

Re: Parking problems

Post by Robin Orton »

I'm not sure how relevant this is, but the borough are about to launch consultations about establishing a large CPZ in Forest Hill and upper Sydenham (between Dartmouth Road and Kirkdale) - see http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.ph ... 014&page=2
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Parking problems

Post by Eagle »

Maybe Lewisham are seeing the light and going to make money out of all street parkers.
About time.

Certainly Tredown area is a prime candidate for this treatment.
robbieduncan
Posts: 384
Joined: 28 Oct 2013 17:10
Location: Trewsbury Road

Re: Parking problems

Post by robbieduncan »

Eagle wrote:Maybe Lewisham are seeing the light and going to make money out of all street parkers.
About time.

Certainly Tredown area is a prime candidate for this treatment.
As someone with offstreet parking for 3 or even 4 cars I'd welcome this!
Manwithaview1
Posts: 2162
Joined: 21 Jan 2012 21:23
Location: Sydenham Hill Estate

Re: Parking problems

Post by Manwithaview1 »

What some councils do instead of the CPZ process they single yellow line a street and enforce that street between 11.30 and 12pm thus forcing commuters to find somewhere else to cause issues for residents.
stuart
Posts: 3635
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Re: Parking problems

Post by stuart »

Just answered a knock at the door requesting I move my car as it blocking access to the fire bright yellow hydrant that needs to be repaired. Except it isn't mine. Today I think it belongs an ordinary out of borough commuter. Luckily we are not on fire.

People nowadays just don't care where they park or what the lethal consequences (see my old thread about corner parking). Enforcement in residential areas appears non-existent. What when we moved here was not a problem is now real and getting worse every year. We do need to do something. If that is a CPZ then it should be for the whole of Sydenham otherwise we just shift/intensify the problem for the next street.

Providing it reduces the demand more than the space it would be better for residents. Who would be uncomfortable with that and why?

Stuart
Manwithaview1
Posts: 2162
Joined: 21 Jan 2012 21:23
Location: Sydenham Hill Estate

Re: Parking problems

Post by Manwithaview1 »

stuart wrote:Just answered a knock at the door requesting I move my car as it blocking access to the fire bright yellow hydrant that needs to be repaired. Except it isn't mine. Today I think it belongs an ordinary out of borough commuter. Luckily we are not on fire.

People nowadays just don't care where they park or what the lethal consequences (see my old thread about corner parking). Enforcement in residential areas appears non-existent. What when we moved here was not a problem is now real and getting worse every year. We do need to do something. If that is a CPZ then it should be for the whole of Sydenham otherwise we just shift/intensify the problem for the next street.

Providing it reduces the demand more than the space it would be better for residents. Who would be uncomfortable with that and why?

Stuart
Some are worried about more state interference in their lives and cost even if it is 48p a week or whatever.

It reminds me of The Simpsons episode on education with the Headmaster saying to all the parents we can do this extra and this and this to huge cheers. It's going to cost you 17cents a week extra and the parents rioted against the tax rise. :lol:
SteveG85
Posts: 39
Joined: 26 Aug 2014 16:41
Location: SE26

Re: Parking problems

Post by SteveG85 »

I live in Upper Sydenham just off Kirkdale and don't own a car, but have started to notice that when friends or relatives come to stay they are finding it increasingly difficult to find a space. I am against the 'dumping' of cars on residential streets by businesses and the ridiculous antics of some commuters but checking the CPZ prices on the Lewisham website has given me pause for thought. If our guests arrived on Friday lunchtime and left Monday morning it looks like it would cost £20 in temporary permits (depending on whether the 'full day' option lasts 24hrs or applies to a calendar day).

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/p ... arges.aspx
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