Westminster Town Hall’s ‘bogus congestion claims to justify evening parking charges’

Nov 15th, 2011

Westminster council was today accused of making “bogus claims” about traffic congestion at night in the West End to justify evening parking charges.

Council leaders have consistently argued that the fees are needed because the streets are now “every bit as busy” at night as during the day. But one transport expert has said that the claim is fatally undermined by Westminster’s own research.

Ian Dix, of transport consultants Vectos, said the council’s “traffic data report” – a key plank of its case for the charges – shows that only a small number of roads are just as badly clogged after dark.

Westminster is planning to abolish free parking on single yellow lines and parking bays between 6.30pm and midnight Monday to Saturday, and between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays. Parking will cost up to £4.80 per hour in bays.

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Tagged: free parking in London · parking in London · parking in westminster

Free parking in Tottenham over Christmas

Nov 3rd, 2011

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People living in or visiting Tottenham this Christmas can take advantage of free parking in local car parks until the end of January 2012 as part of an on-going campaign to boost trade in the area.

This latest move from Haringey Council - designed to help the local economy – follows the recent announcement that hundreds of riot-hit businesses will receive a cut in their tax this year worth £1.6m.

Free parking provision started on October 28th and will operate every day until January 31st 2012 at Stoneleigh Road and West Green Road.

Charges will apply before 09:00 GMT – to avoid commuters taking spaces from shoppers – and on Spurs match days.

Haringey Council cabinet member for the environment Nilgun Canver said: “Traders have asked for this to help encourage visitors back to the area to shop or have a meal and this is something we can do to help over the coming months.”

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Judges asked to review Westminster parking fees

Nov 2nd, 2011

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Westminster council is facing an unprecedented legal battle over plans to introduce “a tax on nightlife” with West End parking charges which will raise millions of pounds.

It is being taken to the High Court following a rebellion led by top chefs, actors and night-time workers.

In the biggest legal challenge of its kind, they will seek a judicial review of Westminster’s plans.

The council is proposing to abolish free parking on single yellow lines and parking bays between 6.30pm and midnight Monday to Saturday, and between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays. Parking will cost up to £4.80 per hour.

Thousands of workers, from kitchen porters to West End stars, would suffer and London’s economy would be damaged, it is claimed.

You can avoid having to pay high London parking fees and fines and find free parking in London by using the Tube and our text service to find free parking near tube stations outside the congestion zone.

Simply text the word Parking and the name of a tube station OUTSIDE THE CONGESTION ZONE to 80039 and you’ll receive a text back giving you three locations near the tube, or the station closest to it on the same line.

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Camden parking tickets may be illegal as wardens ‘flee immigration checks’

Nov 1st, 2011

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Camden Council could be forced to repay millions of pounds worth of parking fines following accusations that around 20 parking wardens have been patrolling the borough illegally for years.
A tradesman is challenging the legality of hundreds of parking tickets after it emerged that many long-serving wardens fled the service after an immigration check on September 15.

Richard Chaumeton’s construction firm has accumulated up to £91,000 of parking fines, but the Kentish Town builder is taking the council to task over what he claims could be illegal tickets.

Mr Chaumeton, also of London Motorists’ Action Group (LMAG), said: “All those tickets that have been issued are illegal and they should not be valid because they have been handed out by illegal immigrants.

“How can it be lawful for illegal immigrants, who work indirectly for the council, to hand out parking tickets?”

If he is successful, the council could be forced to repay millions of pounds to other drivers who might also have been illegally fined.

It would be yet another blow to Camden’s parking service, which earlier this year was ruled to have amassed £10million in illegal fines from 2009.

Cllr Chris Knight said: “The implications are enormous. If these guys issue up to six tickets or more a day that’s roughly £1.5million worth of tickets a year.”

Parking wardens are employed to the council parking service by private company NSL, which strongly denies the allegations.

A spokesman for the company also rebuffed any suggestion that the legality of tickets is affected by a warden’s immigration status.

The spokesman said: “We were fully staffed on the day in question, and have found no-one working for us who does not have the right to work in the UK. NSL takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously.”

Mr Chaumeton, who has offices in Grafton Road, alleges that around 20 parking wardens – some who have worked in the borough for seven years – failed to turn up for work last month after being warned of an immigration check.

He claims the missing staff are still on NSL’s books and are receiving holiday and sick pay despite failing to show up for work for more than a month.

A Camden Council spokesman said: “NSL have assured us that their employment practices are robust and that the claims being made are without any foundation.”

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Tagged: london parking · Parking in Camden · parking in London

Kingston’s most lucrative street for parking fines rakes in more than £100,000 a year

Oct 31st, 2011

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The most lucrative street in Kingston for parking fines has raked in more than £100,000 for the council.

Kingston Council has issued 2,879 parking tickets to motorists in Tolworth Broadway since August 2010, earning the Guildhall £127,370, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The top four streets – Tolworth Broadway, along with Kingston Road in New Malden, Fife Road and Old London Road Marlborough Street, both in Kingston – brought in more than £300,000 to council coffers.

Ewell Road and Surbiton Road, both in Surbiton, and Clarence Street, Fairfield Road, Hardman Road and the Bittoms, all in Kingston, also featured on the list of top 10 earners for the council.

The total parking fine income for all of Kingston from September 2010 until October 2011 totalled £1.8m.

Salfaya Hussein from parkingfinesuk.com, which offers free advice to motorists issued with parking tickets, said: “Nearly two-thirds of parking tickets issued by local authorities are obtained illegally which means it is quite likely around £66,000 has been stolen from motorists in Tolworth Broadway.”

Councillor Simon James, the executive member responsible for parking, said: “If you don’t park illegally you won’t get a ticket, it is as simple as that.

“We are aware some groups have claimed tickets are being issued in Kingston that shouldn’t be but, while some tickets have been retracted, we are sure that this is not the case in the borough.”

Temporary pay-and-display machines and the closure of a town centre car park lost the council more than £160,000 this year.

The Cattle Market, Bittoms and Rose car parks in Kingston used the pay-and-display system between May and August this year while replacement works to install pay-on-foot facilities were carried out.

The three council-owned car parks brought in £166,394.50 less than in the same four-month period last year, with all car parks showing a loss.

The reduced takings may have been worsened by the closure of the Bittoms car park for six weeks from July 26, and a RingGo cashless parking trial by the council during the time period.

The system required drivers to pay for parking with a credit or debit card over the phone, saving people the walk to the ticket machine and the need to carry change.

However, some people complained that, due to limited phone reception in car parks, the system was hard to use.

Kingston Council said the reduced income was due to a number of factors, including visitors avoiding the car parks because of the temporary machines, which were criticised at the time for being inflexible.

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Parking will remain free in Richmond and Bushy parks

Oct 31st, 2011

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Park lovers will be pleased to hear parking will continue to remain free in both Richmond and Bushy parks.

The reassurance came following concerns about what would happen when responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Royal Parks is transferred to a new board at the start of 2012.

Mark Camley, chief executive of the Royal Parks Agency, confirmed there were no plans to introduce car parking charges in either Richmond or Bushy Park, despite the impending management restructure.

Councillor Tony Arbour, Richmond’s London Assembly Member, said he was pleased the principle of free parking in the parks would be retained.

He said: “I have long campaigned against any attempt to introduce car parking charges for those using Richmond and Bushy, and this confirmation is fantastic news for those who use and love the parks.

“This commitment is in line with the (London) mayor’s desire to maintain the status quo once responsibility for London’s Royal Parks is transferred to a board, over which he has powers of appointment.”

The issue of parking charges in Richmond’s flagship Royal Parks has concerned residents since proposals at the start of 2009 which suggested drivers should pay to leave their cars in the park.

Although parking charge plans were finally scrapped in July 2010, visitors were concerned the proposals may be resubmitted following the switch of park management.

As part of a plan to make the Royal Parks more accountable to the general public, a new Royal Parks board is currently being formed with the hope it will come into force at the start of next year.

Partly selected by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the board will consist of 12 members – including one from the royal household.

On Thursday, October 13, Mr Johnson officially named his first appointees to the new board, including four existing board members.

He said: “I am delighted that several members of the current board, including chairman Apurv Bagri, have accepted my invitation to carry on in their roles.

“This means we can take advantage of their extensive experience as we seek to bolster how Londoners can get more involved in the running of these wonderful parks.”

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West End stars sign petition against parking charges

Oct 30th, 2011

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Some of theatre’s biggest stars have signed a petition against plans to introduce evening and Sunday parking charges in London’s West End.

Actors Tom Conti, Linda Bellingham, Bill Paterson and Roger Lloyd Pack have signed the petition against Westminster City Council’s plans.

The Tory council intends to introduce parking charges of up to £4.80 an hour.

Tory councillor Lee Rowley said the council would treat the petition “the same as any other”.

‘Financial hardship’
More than 7,700 people have signed the petition that will be delivered to the council on 2 November.

Conti, who is also famous for his on screen role in Shirley Valentine, said: “In a time of such financial hardship for so many people, this action by Westminster Council that will harm so many businesses and therefore those who work in them, is criminally irresponsible.”

Bellingham, who recently appeared in the stage version of Calendar Girls, said: “Let us encourage families and older citizens to our theatres and galleries and make the cost at least a little less and also the worry of time and meters and fear of a ticket.”

Cllr Rowley, cabinet member for parking and transport, said: “We look forward to receiving this petition and will treat it the same as any other.

“The decision the council has made balances the views of residents, businesses and visitors with that data and the legal responsibilities that we have.

“The changes affect only around a quarter of Westminster.

“If anyone wants to continue to park for free in central London, they will still be able to do so just a stones’ throw from Oxford Circus.”

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Tagged: london parking · parking in London · parking in westminster

Greenwich Council could issue parking fines of £1,000 during London 2012 Olympics

Oct 27th, 2011

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Greenwich Council is seeking permission to bring in enhanced penalties of between £500 and £1,000 during the Olympics in certain parts of the borough.

The proposal has been made to London Councils, an umbrella organisation of all the London boroughs, which is looking to toughen up parking control for the duration of the Games to counter the congestion likely to occur during the event.

Greenwich council has put forward recommendations for the highest penalties of between £500 and £1,000, although the locations where people could be fined have yet to be determined. If the council is allowed to issue such heavy fines, they are likely to be around Greenwich Park, which will host equestrian events for both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Newham council is seeking to introduce fines of at least £200, while Hackney wants to increase fines but has not yet submitted any figures.

London Councils believes there are two options available to councils to deter people from parking illegally – increasing the number of vehicles towed away or increasing the financial penalties given to drivers.

The group found most councils had “little or no interest” in the two methods.

A report to be presented to London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee next week said: “It is important to note, though, that those boroughs seeking enhancements for the Games are Hackney, Newham and Greenwich – all of whom are likely to experience a dramatic local increase in parking demand.

“Leaders may wish to consider localising any recommendations to this area of London.”

The three boroughs all supported increasing fines, while Newham and Hackney also supported increasing towing away.

London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 11.

The group’s Transport and Environment Committee is then due to decide later this year or at the beginning of next on any changes in parking controls in all boroughs. These will then have to be approved by the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Changes specific to just one or a few boroughs will also need special approval.

Special parking penalties will be set for the duration of the Games on the Olympic Route Network (ORN). London Councils’ report said: “Ministers have previously told Parliament that penalties on the ORN would not exceed £300 and are likely to agree to £200.”

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Saturday parking charges in Merton Park dropped after huge opposition

Oct 21st, 2011

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Council plans to charge for Saturday parking in residential streets have been dropped, as a survey suggests massive opposition to the idea.

Research by the Merton Park Ward Residents’ Association (MPWRA) found 88 per cent of residents in the ward opposed the extension of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) from Monday to Friday to Monday to Saturday.

Earlier this year Labour-controlled Merton Council proposed making the change in 10 CPZs across the borough, but last week the authority said it would only do so if streets demanded more restrictions.

The survey, the results of which were published on Monday, attracted 632 replies from residents in the three areas of the ward that have a CPZ – near Circle Gardens, in Wimbledon Chase north of Kingston Road and towards Morden between Crown Lane, Martin Way and London Road.

A spokesman for MPWRA, which is represented on the council by the Merton Park Independents, said: “Overall, the message to Merton Council could hardly be clearer – scrap these proposals to extend parking controls to Saturdays.”

They added residents rejected Saturday charging because weekend congestion was not an issue in the area, and more measures would simply be a money-making exercise.

Minutes from a February meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny panel outline a plan to implement new tariffs and charge hours.

But Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for the environment, said changes to CPZs would only be made at the request of communities and if consultations showed they had public backing.

He claimed rolling out Saturday extensions “willy-nilly” had never been his party’s policy.

Councillor Debbie Shears, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said Labour were “just hitting the motorist every way they can”.

Conservative councillor David Dean attacked the independents for backing this year’s council budget, which included extra revenue from Saturday CPZs in £138,000 of parking savings, arguing they should have joined his party in trying to “vote this dreadful policy down”.

Independent councillor John Sargeant said the party had “compromised” on the issue to get the budget passed.

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Thousands have parking fines refunded by Richmond Council

Oct 20th, 2011

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Wrongly issued parking tickets making £1.1 million will be refunded by a London council.

Campaigners believe an admission by Richmond upon Thames council that its mobile CCTV vans had the wrong kind of cameras installed could open the door to a flood of other claims across the capital.

Conservative-run Richmond has apologised after being caught out by a campaigning motorist, who showed that more than 20,000 penalty fines were invalid.

But the council has refused to give the money back automatically and said wronged motorists must apply for it.

Nigel Wise, 59, managed to get his £100 ticket overturned on a technicality because using the wrong camera invalidated his ticket.

Mr Wise, a carer, believes his case could lead to thousands of similar penalties being cancelled across London.

It is estimated that up to £10?million of tickets are issued city-wide by the CCTV vehicles every year. There are 43 cars, usually Smart or Toyota, equipped with CCTV in at least 24 boroughs, according to civil liberties group Big Brother Watch.

A tribunal at the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service in Islington overturned Mr Wise’s penalty in a landmark ruling in April. The Richmond resident claims to have unearthed evidence of similar errors at councils across the capital.

The invalid Richmond tickets were issued between June 2009 and this April. Drivers must apply for the refund. Richmond said that despite the tickets falling outside its 28-day appeal period it was offering the refunds in accordance with its “Fair Parking” policy.

Mr Wise said: “It’s great news and a victory for common sense.

“But the council should repay that money proactively because a lot of people may not live in the borough. It’s wrong that people should have to apply for refunds because the council has no right to keep this money.”

Richmond’s leader, Lord True, said: “It may be argued that many of the actions of the drivers concerned were contraventions. Had the cameras been properly certified most would have been.

“But they were not. I am grateful to the citizens who pointed out this error and regret that earlier action was not taken to address their warnings. Management action has been taken to ensure this will not recur.

“A public authority has a duty to act correctly and, when faults are pointed out, to address them. We failed that vital standard.”

Conservative-run Richmond raised more than £573,000 last year from 12,305 tickets issued through mobile CCTV.

Peter Ashford of the London Motorists’ Action Group said: “When a council has obtained money by unlawful means, it’s not finders’ keepers and they should return it straight away.”

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Tagged: free parking in London · london parking · parking in London · parking in Richmond

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