parking ticket on grove vale

[mayfly]

Got a parking ticket at 3pm today for parking in the bay on the Blackbird bakery side, opposite the builder's yard. It has been free on that side of the road if only stopping briefly for half an hour.

Could somebody tell me exactly when the notice went up and parking charges started.

(Hasten to add, I have only ever parked there when things are too heavy to carry)

[sandyman]

Not sure which spot you mean, but one space is for loading only. Free for 30 minutes spaces on Grove Vale are still there i think but the trouble is you have to register that you are there. I guess it helps them to check you don't overstay. I think they've been like that roughly around six months.

[mayfly]

Thanks Sandyman

Was parked in the bay opposite Gibbs and Dandy next to the loading bay. Until now it's been free without registering there, unlike on the opposite side of the road. It must be very so recent and want to make an appeal.

[KidKruger]

The pay areas there are a joke. Those areas should be supporting the local shops. Charging people for even 5mins to stop and pick up (say) some fried chicken, or bakery products is insane and doesn?t support the shops. It puts people off stopping, I think the parking limit there is 30mins. Why not just have no fee but those who overstay 30 mins get fined - I think my problem is I?m looking for an equitable arrangement.

[sandyman]

Isn't that what they do do in grove vale? It's still free, just that there is now the extra hassle of having to go through the 'payment' process just to register that you are stopping in a free space for less than 30 mins. A lot of bother to pick up a bun so, as you say it will still put shoppers off even if it's free.

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The pay areas there are a joke. Those areas should

> be supporting the local shops. Charging people for

> even 5mins to stop and pick up (say) some fried

> chicken, or bakery products is insane and doesn?t

> support the shops. It puts people off stopping, I

> think the parking limit there is 30mins. Why not

> just have no fee but those who overstay 30 mins

> get fined - I think my problem is I?m looking for

> an equitable arrangement.

[Abe_froeman]

Whose benefit is that system for though? Seems to the only people it helps are those trying to catch and fine people who park there for more than 31 minutes or more.

[Lynne]

Ridiculous. Obviously a blatant money spinner. Do you have to register by smart phone? If do, that's me b......ed

[Huggers]

And not everyone has or wants a smart phone

[FatherJack]

Parked in Grove Vale earlier, as the passenger I tried to register the car, required now even for the free 30 minute stay. After a pin change, entering reg plate twice, it then required a credit card (or debit card?)I didn?t have any cards with me. It was a short stop and go and driver returned within 15 minutes. A right ol faff.

[KidKruger]

Doesn?t benefit the businesses.

Doesn?t benefit the customers.

Benefits only the Council.

[Huggers]

Discriminates against old people who don?t have the right technology. And who probably need that parking space the most. I can?t use any phone based parking as I have hearing aids that make it very stressful

[mayfly]

Many thanks for your comments, especially to you FatherJack.

Only have a dinosaur mobile, not a smartphone, and don't use a credit card, so I'm b.....ed too. Have a walking problem and use a stick which is why I parked to go the Blackbird bakery for several loaves of bread and jars of marmalade.

What I'm really interested in, apart from alerting folk, is: when did we have to start registering to park there?

Have tried to appeal but council website says "error".

[AylwardS]

I believe the need to register on Grove Vale came in September 2019 for all bays when the restrictions came in to other roads under the East Dulwich area parking zone.

I think this is the order and if it covers the bay you parked in then unless the sign was missing an appeal to the Council won?t be successful.

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/assets/attach/10536/East-Dulwich-area-parking-zone-ED-notice-dated-19-Sept-2019-.pdf

There?s certainly more traffic, and therefore cars wanting to park, on Grove Vale than 20 years ago. Do they all need to park and could some not park and walk leaving space for those who want to use the shops and can?t walk? If the inconvenience makes those who can choose not to park leaving spaces for those who can?t that seems positive to me.

Everyone?s circumstances are different but there are probably some who park when they want rather than when they need. Changing that behaviour is a challenge I?m glad not to have.

If you don?t want to create an account you can park as a guest.

https://support.paybyphone.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/360009405037-Parking-with-a-Guest-Account

The easiest way, though you will need a phone that can take apps and a credit / debit card is via the app. More and more drivers have them now. Mayfly you should be able to phone and park as a guest. My dad and father-in-law now have one. My sister was the last to get a bank account and card but now has one. Shops have stopped taking cash so use of cards has increased. There will be some who can?t register easily but most will find it a minor inconvenience and it will probably be worth it for a space?

[Nigello]

Try conacting this show on Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1YnZrF9w7xR82St8d7Pgc6x/contact-you-yours

I don't work there but do listen and hear that they feature items generated by listeners.

[ed26]

I checked this out a while back. It's 30 mins free but you still have to register, apparently. I called the number and no one answered for ages. Instead, it kept playing a message to say that I could use the PayByPhone app. I downloaded it and put the location code in. However, the app doesn't give you option of registering for the free 30 mins. Instead, you have to select paid parking. I didn't do that and risked popping into the shops and got away with it. I contacted the council about this, asking how we are supposed to register for free parking if the phone number and app don't work, but I never received a response.

[ianr]

On some remote payment sites, such as Amazon, I've found that even when 'buying' a zero cost offer you get steered through the standard payment routine, and then at the payment stage get it confirmed that the payment due is ?0.00. Might that be the case here? I see that the paybyphone instructions do say the last two stages of the transaction are

10. You will then be shown a summary of your parking transaction

11. To confirm and start your session press Pay & Park

So it looks safe to try that path without risk. Or has anyone tried it and found it's not possible here?

[Zak]

I've just walked down Grove Vale to the shops and checked out the parking situation. It's pretty confusing. This is how it is:

* Outside Gibbbs & Dandy wood yard and on the opposite side of the road: Just pay by phone for up to two hours. No mention of free first 30 minutes option.

* Outside The Cherry Tree pub: Pay by phone for up to two hours, with an option to stay for 30 minutes for free, but you have to register.

* Outside the shoemenders/cleaners on the opposite side of the road. Free for up to 30 minutes, no need to register (approx 4 spaces)

No wonder there's so much confusion! The bottom line is that if you park on Grove Vale, then look carefully at the signs - don't assume anything!

[first mate]

This system is really loaded against those for whom smartphones and other tech is not second nature.

[KidKruger]

I think that summary from Zak shows the system is loaded against virtually everyone !

[sally buying]

Perhaps this is why Dulwich park car park is now mostly empty. Many elderly people in general who used it during the day do not have a smart phone so do not go. Parking charges also put people off.

Waste of a public asset.

[Huggers]

Agree. Battersea Park has a ticket machine and the car park is full.

[Zak]

I've just double checked the parking restrictions and discovered a couple further complications.....

* Outside Gibbs & Dandy & Kwik Fit: I was correct in pointing out that there is no 30 minutes free outside Gibbs & Dandy, but a couple of yards away, just outside Kwik Fit, there's another small bay where there is a free 30 minutes!

* Outside The Cherry Tree Pub & The Dulwich Design Kitchen Shop: Again, I was correct about there being 30 minutes free outside the Cherry Tree, but a few yards away in front of the Dulwich Design Kitchen shop, there's no free 30 minutes.

It couldn't be more complicated! Again, anyone parking there needs to double check exactly which bay they are in.

How Southwark can crow about supporting local businesses, when they create traps like this for their customers, is a joke.

[first mate]

I'd love to have a comment from the local councillor on all this. Just to get insight into how they think this is justified.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

I'm in favour of parking restrictions because they're the only sensible way to ration scarce road space and air, but there's no excuse for them being confusing.