Lucas Gardens CPZ

[gm99]

Hello all,

I know the subject of CPZs has been done to near death on the EDF, but I am hoping to engage readers who live in/just outside the Lucas Gardens CPZ that was introduced in January, to discuss the way it has been implemented and the impact this has had on surrounding areas. It operates Monday to Friday 0830 to 1830.

I live just outside the Lucas Gardens CPZ on Shenley Road and have been lobbying the Council to moderate the operation and coverage of the LG CPZ, which seems to have been over-engineered and has displaced parking pressure into surrounding areas. The consultation and design took no account of displacement (by design - Southwark's approach to parking entirely lacks a strategic appreciation of wider local context).

For those who may be interested, the Council's own data show that:

1. Permit takeup has been 26% (#permits/#households)

Apparently this is higher than the borough average for CPZs of only 10%. [ONS data for Brunswick Park ward indicate that 50% of households have access to a car, which suggests lots of residential parking has been displaced out of the CPZ.]

2. Assuming an average car parking space, the number of permits issued equates to 56% of available parking space inside the CPZ. This is lower than the borough average of 67%.

[Taking 1 and 2 together suggests that the LG CPZ has a relatively large amount of parking space per household]

3. Daytime weekday CPZ area parking occupancy, measured by 'spot survey' for the Council, has fallen from 115% of 'safe occupancy' in Nov 11, to 50% in Jan 12 (after 1 week) and just under 40% in Feb 12 (after 6 weeks).

The same analysis suggests that parking occupancy outside of the CPZ has gone from 92% to 105% to 90%. [My personal view is that parking pressures outside the CPZ are still significantly higher than pre-CPZ.]

I have tried arguing that the hours of operation should be reduced, and have been told by the council officer responsible that his professional opinion is that this would not make a difference to those of us outside of the CPZ.

I have argued that, for example, the eastern (park) side of Vestry Road, where there are no houses and now almost no parked cars, should be removed from the CPZ. The officer told me this was not consistent with 'best practice'.

My final pitch will be to suggest that selected parts of the CPZ without houses fronting the road could be changed to 'permit holders only or [e.g.] four hours', to continue to deter all day commuter parking but allow some flexibility for shorter stay visitors, trades etc.

If anyone has any constructive ideas they would be greatly appreciated.

If anyone wants to also take any of this up, Cllr Ian Wingfield (Brunswick Park and Deputy Council Leader) has been quite receptive and has indicated that he is keen to hear from local residents.

The Senior Engineer responsible for designing the CPZ is Tim Walker.

Both are [email protected]

For the record, I am opposed to any extension of the CPZ if possible, and believe that a more equitable distribution of parking pressure across the wider area is a reasonable objective, while recognising how bad the situation was pre-CPZ for car owners living in the zone.

I understand from Ian Wingfield that the Lucas Gardens CPZ will be discussed at the next Camberwell Community Council meeting (11th April I think).

Cheers,

Gavin

[gm99]

I have been told that the next Camberwell Community Council meeting will be on the 25th of April at 7.00pm at Lettsom Tenants Hall, 114 Vestry Road, London SE5.

http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=175&MId=3884&Ver=4 (the agenda will be posted at least a week in advance).

I am considering requesting a deputation to ask for a formal review of the implementation of the Lucas Gardens CPZ, with a view to moderating its impact on surrounding non-CPZ streets.

If anyone has any experience of this process, any advice would be gratefully received. On the specific subject of CPZs I wonder if this - Community Council - process would offer any advantages over, for example, a direct approach to Barry Hargrove? I note that the Community Council could choose to refuse to hear the deputation, or refer it to 'the most appropriate committee/sub-committee'. I guess I don't know enough about the functioning of local democracy.

If you are a resident of one of the roads affected - whether inside or outside the CPZ - and would like to get involved in lobbying the Council, please post below or get in touch by PM. Likewise if you disagree with me.

One final thing: I would be interested in any views on whether the Council should be obliged to minimise the displacement of residential parking out of CPZ's? I have spotted that the Council's analysis suggested that 26% of parking pre-CPZ was 'commuter parking'. Given that parking occupancy in the CPZ area has fallen from 115% to 40% (of post-implementation 'safe levels'), it seems reasonable to assume that lots of residents living inside the CPZ now park outside it.

Many thanks,

Gavin

[Bluecat5]

I don't know if I have anything hugely useful to add to the above, very thorough, analysis except my personal experience. I also live on Shenley Road and own a car. October 2011-February 2012 I was out and about daily in the car during the day time (couldn't walk anywhere much due to large pregnant bump and toddler in tow). Before the Lucas Gardens CPZ introduction, I was able to park outside our house or within 5m, of it 90% of the time. Since 16th January, i have very, very rarely been able to do this - perhaps 5% of the time. If I leave my parking space in the morning, someone is regularly hovering in the road waiting to take my space. I absolutely don't agree that occupancy is the same now as before the CPZ - I don't know how anyone could come to that conclusion.

As for useful suggestions to a way forward, reducing the hours of operation of the Lucas Gardens CPZ would surely help the surrounding roads. I also agree that the side of Vestry Road by the park could be removed from the CPZ. If this doesn't fit into 'best practice', maybe best practice needs to become more creative, especially as less and less of Southwark is CPZ free. Having said that, I am not necessarily opposed to an extension of the CPZ into Shenley and neighbouring roads. I know parking in London in a street of Victorian houses is always likely to be difficult but I would really like to be able to safely unload two small children from my car some where close to my house, not two streets away.

[gm99]

If anyone is interested I have attached a paper (minus the signatories) submitted to the Council to request a deputation at the Camberwell Community Council on the 25th of April, which will be attended by Cllr Barry Hargrove. This was drafted in conjunction with other residents from Shenley and Linnell Roads.

If you live on one of the streets affected by the Lucas Gardens CPZ and would be interested in adding your support to the attached request for action please get in touch.

Many thanks,

Gavin

[gm99]

The deputation has been accepted and will be heard by the Camberwell Community Council. The agenda is now on line here.

Unfortunately, Cllr Hargrove is now unable to attend - apparently he is speaking at a conference that day.