Forum Topic

Premium Parking permits

For a fee Ealing council are offering this permit to any business/ individual from inside or outside the borough. In their statement they cite doctors needing this while visiting patients. One would hope that  doctors visiting patients would have and appropriate card exempting them from any payment. This permit will cover every zone in the borough and also allow parrking in meter bays.The permit will cost £1500 per year and the council say they will only issue 25 at any one time. Consultation was by way of draught in the local free paper. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

Jan Gayle-Farlow ● 4162d18 Comments

Once the permits are no longer issued as paper ones no-one is going to know whether a car has a permit or not. So you won't be able to tell how many there are.

Philippa Bond ● 4150d

25 for the whole borough, seems like a strange number to me.

Jay Bower ● 4152d

And that "something much bigger" is what do you think? And is the assumption "something much worse"?....

Julian Smith ● 4160d

The Council have said that lorries aren't able to purchase these Premium Permits.  I agree Jan re the Council doing these things in prep for something much bigger.

Angela White ● 4160d

I rather think the council does these things in prep  for something much bigger. Having had a chance to look at the proposal. There is no mention of size or type of vehicle also holders of PPP's  can park on metered bays, with no extra charge. Homes are being built in Ealing without a residents permit being on offer. What are the council saying.

Jan Gayle-Farlow ● 4160d

Paul, and quite right too.I abhor the abuse of the 'religious exemption' permits with some places of worship 'justifying' multiple (tens of)permits. We have one and it is passed to whoever is 'on duty' and only then if we cannot walk or cycle to the visit.

Nigel Brooks ● 4160d

It's just another example of our Council selling off Ealing to the highest bidder. I wish they would PLEASE STOP

Julian Smith ● 4160d

Nina, we all need to be asking the Council to provide us with their process, when, how and where they did the process and the results.  They will have to provide this evidence sooner or later.

Angela White ● 4160d

Angela - I think also even if consultations take place it's still a case of 'we'll consult and then do what we like'.  Call me cynical, but I don't believe it when I'm told that a decision has been made on the basis of the percentages voting for something to go ahead.

Nina Battleday ● 4160d

The main point here is that the consultation of residents happened by way of a 3 week notice in a local newspaper (I think you have to buy this newspaper?) that no-one seems to have seen and Ealing Council have changed their policy on planning notifications too, which begs the question how they can say they are consulting the public fairly and as widely as is necessary.  It seems Ealing don't believe the public are as important in consultations as they once were.

Angela White ● 4160d

If the vehicle is showing a "Health Emergency" badge then it can be exempt.I do not know how many home visits that would be legitimately applied to though.Not the same, but doctors (and vets) can apply for a reserved parking bay near their surgery - typically around 20 applications per year - recently increased from 600GBP to 800.The parking permits issued to religious establishments have been under review for being abused - ironic really.

Paul Webster ● 4160d

But what's wrong with a borough wide parking permit for people who find it useful and are prepared to pay for it?

Peter Evans ● 4160d

I don't know anything about the premium parking scheme but I do know that any income from parking permits/fines has to be spent on other transport initiatives, such as my Freedom pass. Also from memory the traffic works to the Uxbridge Road in Acton, good or bad were funded by TFL/GLA/Boris as the Uxbridge Rd is TFL's responsibility..........

Iain Muir ● 4162d

So the question is, are they?the idea from the council was that this was the sort of person who might value the premium pass - but there are squillions of doctors in Ealing so it was never going to be taken up (if at all) by many.I would have thought would make most commercial sense for estate agents and the like...

Sara Nathan ● 4162d

I totally missed this. If quite a few of the surgerys in the borough are having to pay the £15000, out of their funds for more than one doctor that is a significant amount. This present council have wasted so much money eg the multiple re-vamps of the traffic system out side Morrisons, they need these mad cap schemes to put some money back in the communal purse.

Jan Gayle-Farlow ● 4162d

There was quite a lot of coverage when this was proposed. Seems daft to me - but it's only 25 people (for now of course)I have no idea if they have been taken up. Neither doctors nor other caring professionals are exempt from any form of charging as far as I know...the only people who get away with ignoring CPZs etc with impunity are diplomats.

Sara Nathan ● 4162d

Having whatched  a council meeting last week. Your adjective is spot on. This council does not engage with its constituents.

Jan Gayle-Farlow ● 4162d

Did they consult residents and if so, how?  I didn't know anything about this.Surely doctors are exempt anyway, as you say.It does seem that things are slipping under the radar somewhat, or is it just me?

Angela White ● 4162d

Discussed at some length on the ealingtoday form.It happened because people were stupid enough to vote Bells' buffoons back into office.

Nigel Brooks ● 4162d

Discussed at some length on the ealingtoday form.It happened because people were stupid enough to vote Bells' buffoons back into office.

Nigel Brooks ● 4162d