Issue - meetings

Report ES16046

Following concerns from residents and Ward Members, a number of Penge roads have been identified with parking problems and informal consultation was undertaken on the level of support for local permit parking. A parking scheme for a road would only be considered where a majority of residents in the road considered it had a parking problem or might be adversely affected by a proposed scheme nearby. 

The consultation indicated that a majority of residents in a number of roads supported permit parking (i.e. Crampton Road, Kingswood Road, Phoenix Road, Lucas Road, Southley Street, Raleigh Road, Cottingham Road, Kingsdale Road and Kenilworth Road) and to progress a parking scheme it was intended to formally consult residents in those roads, particularly as a petition against any form of permit parking for a number of the roads had been received in 2011. Formal consultation would detail proposed changes, costs, Controlled Parking Zone times, location of bays, waiting restrictions (yellow lines) and local amendments for the scheme’s objectives.

For a number of other roads across the area, informal consultation indicated conflicting views on the need for permit parking, including a small majority against in St Johns Road, Wordsworth Road, and Royston Road, and a small majority supportive in Station Road, Torr Road, and Clevedon Road. Views from Barsons Close residents indicated an equal number in support and against. Further consultation would include a number of such roads providing mixed feedback; any scheme might directly impact residents and cause displacement, creating other issues that could impact views. 

Parking permits are not supported by residents of Penge Lane, Mosslea Road, Queen Adelaide Road, Montrave Road, Westbury Road and parts of the High Street, Penge as few parking problems are experienced. The roads would therefore be excluded from any scheme at this time.

A scheme would also need to consider other road users given the close proximity of Penge High Street and ensure that commuter parking is not displaced to other roads. As a result, additional Pay and Display parking is likely to be needed.

Welcoming the review, and supporting recommendations in Report ES16046, Cllr Peter Fookes (Penge and Cator) highlighted the level of consultation response, preferring to see a higher level of feedback in future consultations. Thanking officers for work to date, Cllr Kevin Brooks (Penge and Cator) highlighted that not all residents in the area were aware of the likely £80 cost of a parking permit operating in excess of four hours or for all day use. 

Members were advised that the consultation questionnaire was bland in order to gauge views on whether parking is a problem in Penge roads. Should a majority of residents in a road consider parking a problem, more detail on a proposed scheme could be provided in a second, more formal, consultation. Historically, response levels to consultations had been low, and a response rate above 20% was considered reasonable. The rate of response had not improved significantly with online consultation. The Portfolio Holder welcomed any Ward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19