Forum Topic

Fury Over Proposed Changes to Friars Green CPZ

Is anyone else appalled by this - or just me.  Air quality?

Libby Kemp ● 2891d54 Comments

Working with the Acton Green Residents Association, Southfield Park Triangle Residents Association and The Bedford Park Society we are aware of over 600 objections that were sent in by residents. We believe the actual figure could be nearer 1,000.However, at the Full Council meeting last night, the Cabinet Holder, Councillor Sabiers, indicated the Council would press on with its plans. Both Councillor Gary Malcolm and I spoke and indicated our support for most aspects of the Transport Strategy, however we questioned the role of dual use parking (aka shared bays). We were given no answer to how dual use contributes towards the general aim of lesser car use and cleaner air. We can only conclude therefore that the primary aim is to raise revenue.We do still have a meeting with Julian Bell, the Leader of the Council to raise the concerns. In addition we have referred the decision to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which will look in more detail at the Transport Strategy on the 28th June.Kind RegardsAndrewCouncillor Andrew SteedSouthfield Ward,

Maire Lowe ● 2873d

Controversial parking permit changes have just been given the go-ahead by the Council.The new regime will see a sliding scale of permit costs based on the ratings determined in calculating vehicle excise duty.In addition there will be a £50 surcharge for any diesel car manufactured before 2015 and not meeting the Euro 6 standard for emissions and the surcharge for additional cars in a single household will increase.  The cost of a permit will increase by 60% on average.Of even greater concern however, is the news that the Council has given the green light to introduce and extend shared used bays to ALL RingoGo account holders - not just those with resident parking permits. 'In addition, they have made the price point so low, £4 daily, that it will be become a commuter haven, especially when Crossrail to Heathrow comes on board.  And in conjunction with the proposed ULEZ splitting the borough into two, it will make Ealing a 'Park and Ride' car park.' (Nigel Sumner, Councillor)

Maire Lowe ● 2873d

I know some of the Goldsmith Avenue-ites responded as someone came to the end of our street party last Sunday and canvassed opinion - so I sent it round our street email group.

Sara Nathan ● 2873d

Thanks Maire - good to know.

Tania Bapuji ● 2874d

Maire, They are not interested in peoples opinions unfortunately we live in a one party Labour State called Ealing Council. People voted them in last month increase their majority why would they care what people complain about.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2874d

Yes. The MP's office wrote to say they had received a high volume of comments from residents on this subject & would be making representation to the Council. Daniel Crawford wrote much the same.Who is Paul Driscoll? Will commuters be parking on his road? Did the Acton/Southfields Councillors contribute to the debate?

Maire Lowe ● 2875d

this was posted on Ealingtoday:"The proposal was, as expected, passed at last night's council meeting - I expect there will be much trumpeting of it in the next edition of the Council's publicly funded propaganda rag, telling us it's a 'great deal for the people of Ealing'.Petition is going to be launched this week and I would urge everyone to sign it. If we get 1500 signatures it has to go back for debate. If we get enough opposition the cadre in the Town Hall may even have to reconsider the idea.Oh, and for those of you who voted for Paul Driscoll in May - he was one of the most ardent advocates for the proposal....."Did anyone hear from Rupa Huq about this?

Tania Bapuji ● 2875d

Its essential that you do comment if you live on the designated roads or nearby. While I understand the need to reduce the number of cars on the road, we are not yet at the stage when everyone can do business on a bike. HighwayServices@ealing.gov.uk by midnight if this concerns you

Maire Lowe ● 2878d

Forgot to say you should also read Southfields submissions and follow those.  If you complain about putting up residents parking charges you will do more harm than good

Libby Kemp ● 2881d

We will only be able to reverse this decision for the removal of CPZs, it was passed at the Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, by going down the same route as residents have done in Southfields ward see Chiswick Herald: http://chiswickherald.co.uk/southfield-councillors-arrange-meeting-with-council-leader-about-controvers-p8125-314.htmThis is a numbers game and you will need to email singhto@ealing.gov.uk, and copying in highwayservices@ealing.gov.uk and your ward councillors.

Libby Kemp ● 2881d

Someone has kindly posted the maps of exactly where these zones will be on the Acton Friends Facebook page. I would copy them here but there are 18 of them and I don't know how to post pictures on this site (seems a bit of a faff!).You'll be able to see exactly where the spaces are in the diagrams.

Tania Bapuji ● 2881d

You can already book a specific space down the side of Walpole park opposite the questors.

Kim Rugg ● 2882d

Great idea Peter only I would never park in front of a flank wall overnight. More cars are broken into when in front of flank walls (no windows overlooking}than anywhere else.

John McNamara ● 2882d

If this crazy plan goes ahead, then one course of action could be for residents, who don't use their cars much during the week, to make sure they park in all the shared use bays before Monday mornings, thus making the scheme redundant as a commuter parking option. Direct action!

Peter Millman ● 2882d

Found this in an Ealing Council Document on the introduction of CPZs.Not exactly in line with the "Aim".Included it as part of my objection5.1.1 What is a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)? A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is a parking scheme in a street or area where parking is organised in order to help residents and businesses park their vehicles within the zones that they reside. To find out which zone you are in, visit our website at www.ealing.gov.uk/parking Parking is only permitted in designated parking bays during prescribed hours while displaying a correct permit, ticket or voucher. The aim of Controlled Parking Zones is to discourage commuter and long stay parking by people from outside the area and encourage the free flow of traffic through the borough.

Aus ● 2882d

One potential modification to the scheme would be to limit the length of time that paying visitors can park for, which would stop commuter and holiday parking. This would allow genuine callers to park without having to cadge a visitor voucher from the resident they're calling on!

Peter Evans ● 2882d

I am sure none of our garages in the area would do this....it is a prime opportunity to leave broken down cars parked for days and weeks, without having to "find a space" if left overnight.  This is what happened prior to the CPZ introduction. 

Angela White ● 2882d

>> although they can book in advance on RINGO, can they actually reserve a space?Presumably they would not be able to reserve a space - except by sticking a vehicle in it.Assuming the CPZ permit holders do not need to get a free Ringo reservation to use a shared use bay then Ringo cannot know how many spaces are available since residents could be using some or all of them without their knowledge.

Paul Webster ● 2882d

Absolutely, Libby. (although they can book in advance on RINGO, can they actually reserve a space?)Because the area is directly next to Acton Main Line (soon to be Crossrail). Commuters will definitely drive in on the off chance of finding a space as even if you park 10-15 minute walk away it'll still be cheaper than buying a season ticket. So all along Horn Lane by the shops will be commuters so the shops will suffer from passing trade, and in all the residential roads will be commuters cramming themselves in causing more pollution, so residents will suffer. The only winners here are commuters from outside the borough. Seems an odd decision by the Council? Maybe they're feeling invincible after the last election win?

Tania Bapuji ● 2882d

No Peter, with RINGO they can book their holiday or commute parking in advance.  This is against all Labour polices to discourage car usage in the borough and is rail heading.  Crossrail was built to take persons from outside London into the capital and to Heathrow, not for  cheap alternative parking in the outer boroughs. I have no problem with putting up parking charges or freeing up little used spaces, but not within ten to fifteen minutes walk of a station and in particular Elizabeth Line stations. And why should I breathe the fumes and subsidise someone driving in from a Maidenhead? There is of course an answer for that last statement.

Libby Kemp ● 2882d

Regular commuters would use the zone if there were sufficient spaces to give a good chance of there being one available. The number of bays that will be shared under this proposal in Zone MM make this highly probable. A bit of driving round might be needed but remember there are apps that will direct you to the nearest parking space.The proposal is illogical if you don't believe there will be available spaces.

Mark Evans ● 2882d

What about broken down vans, Peter, parked for months, as they were previously?  It's a cheap form of van storage.  Where is the conspiracy?  That's missed me.

Angela White ● 2882d

It doesn't help in campaigning, to imply secret conspiracies in everything that happens. I can see why local residents in the area would object if they struggle to find parking spaces, and have no knowledge of the daytime availability of parking spaces in the particular CPZ, but it seems unlikely that anyone would base regular commuting on the off-chance of finding one of the spots vacant.

Pete Grist ● 2882d

I think questions were asked about these CPZ proposals on Tuesday night by councillors in the affected wards who were concerned that the proposed changes weren't being well received and might be at odds with their newly introduced Transport policies to improve air quality and discourage polluting car usage in the Borough. They might well be reconsidered.

Peter Evans ● 2883d

Well said, Libby.  Underhand tactics.  I have to say, this is why, no matter what one's politics are, we should vote locally on "form" of the Councillors involved.  Unfortunately, many of us vote locally like we vote nationally.  This Council rely on that and doesn't treat the residents with respect.  We are not heard.Please let us know more when you hear it.

Angela White ● 2884d

The decision to introduce shared parking, was apparently made two years ago, a one liner in a large document and as the council hoped, it was overlooked by all. If the council had any respect for their constituents they would have explained what they intended to do and why, asking for comments before it was included in the document.  Even some of the elected members were not aware of the sentence.They are asking the residents to respond by the 11th June, however, at Cabinet this evening 5th June the Cabinet will be waving it through.  I want a Labour Council, but I want one which builds not destroys communities. A council which considers all the electorate and communicates and consults in an honest way. The council publishes a puff paper "around Ealing" surely this should be one of the vehicles used to disseminate this type of information, after all it is paid for by our Council Tax, so perhaps we should have a say in the contents? And what about Ward Forums, there must have been at least four since this scheme was added to the Transport Strategy document, never mentioned at mine.So Mik Sabiers before you ask us again to volunteer with litter picking and help with the public gardens Tidy up your green spaces and earn rewards perhaps you should start treating the electorate with respect and consult on matters such as encouraging more cars into the borough, rather than bribing volunteers with a “points for prizes” scheme. Try telling us what you would like to do in the borough and allow us to respond.  You may be nicely surprised what we suggest and how much litter is picked without asking

Libby Kemp ● 2884d

Booking for friends can already be done with visitors permits, so that can't be much of an issue because we still have spaces free.Oh and residents parking permits are being increased! Don't you just love this council?

Tania Bapuji ● 2885d

Yes. I'm not in one of the zones in question, but very close. I can't work out whether they are going to be using different rules for these 'commuter' bays.

Clare Gittins ● 2885d

Couldn't that be done today with a guest permit?

Paul Webster ● 2886d

Quite right, Tania. Also - I noticed recently on my RingGo app that it is possible to book parking for other people for five days in a row. Am I wrong, or does that mean that a resident in one of these zones could do their friends a favour and provide cheap Heathrow/Central London commuter parking? Parking for 6 days comes out at around £68 in Heathrow. Or in one of these zones for £18. Quite a saving....

Clare Gittins ● 2886d

"In terms of non-residents being able to top up their stay indefinitely, while this technically may be possible, users may only pay for one day of parking at a time and from our observations of similar bays in the borough, this is a very rare practice."Does the council really think we're that stupid? Acton Main Line will stop at Heathrow when Crossrail opens.If I were going on holiday, what a great place to park for a couple of weeks. I can use my wifi wherever I am to top up daily for free via Ringo. It will take me a few seconds each day and save me a fortune.

Tania Bapuji ● 2886d

An official explanation at last:"The proposed changes support the parking review strategy approved in 2016 ensuring suitable parking options for all road users. By identifying under-utilised and suitable kerbside space, CPZs will provide shared-use parking options, ensuring that parking is not exclusive to one set of users and is made available for all. More efficient use of parking will be designed and priced to reflect the value of the space, consequently improving parking provision while helping to fund concessionary bus fares and transport schemes in the borough.''''In terms of non-residents being able to top up their stay indefinitely, while this technically may be possible, users may only pay for one day of parking at a time and from our observations of similar bays in the borough, this is a very rare practice. The bays proposed for shared-use parking are in locations where the parking appears under-utilised and able to accommodate visitor parking without encroaching on the needs of residents. However, these arrangements are not set in stone, and should it become apparent that the arrangements are impacting on residents’ ability to park near their homes, the council will review and amend the parking as necessary.''So now we know. While encouraging more cars to use our streets would appear to be contrary to their most recent (post 2016) environmental policies, they're suggesting that this would not in fact be so because the extra income raised would be used for transport improvements elsewhere, thus creating a greater good overall. Hmm! Philosophy wranglers discuss!

Peter Evans ● 2887d

Perhaps they should come up with a park and ride system much further out? They certainly shouldn't be putting more stress on the parking problems already here.  The new flats without any parking should have had underground parking instead of being sold/rented without any parking and without letting those people buying/moving in know that it was nigh impossible to park and that many properties are not entitled to parking permits.  Who forgot to tell them?How many houses have enough space in front of them to park one car plus manoeuvring space?  And how many cars are there per house? More than the space and that is why the overflow of flank walls is necessary. Gardens are important and the Building Regulations call for permeable paving surfaces whether new or replacement.How can we improve public transport so that more people will use it and fewer people will insist on owning and using a car? 

Philippa Bond ● 2888d

The problem is that neither the Local Ward Councillors will oppose what has been planned by the Council or our Labour MP Rupa Huq. You can all write to them but unfortunately you will not get a response condemning the introduction of the new changes... Once the consultation is up that is it.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2888d

It's probably better to contact your recently elected local councillors rather than MP Rupa Huq as this is a local council issue and they should know more about it.  They are:Dan Crawford at daniel.crawford@ealing.gov.uk Abdullah Guliad at abdullah.gulaid@ealing.gov.uk Sarah Rooney at Rooneys@Ealing.gov.uk

Peter Evans ● 2888d

Before the CPZ was introduced there were vehicles parked for months with no sign of an owner. Many campervans and luton vans.On questioning one driver when he eventually showed up we found out he lived in Fulham but had no where to park it there. If people can pay remotely by Ringo we will see a return to this unless there is a time limit.I will write.

Kim Rugg ● 2888d

Can everyone please copy in Rupa Huq, our MP? I also got the stock reply from the council. No reply from Rupa yet. I'd be interested to hear what she thinks about it. rupa.huq.mp@parliament.uk

Tania Bapuji ● 2888d

I have also just been alerted to this by a neighbour who is a member of our CAN Forum.    Several of us have in response already emailed our objections on grounds of existing pressure on parking spaces, safety and pollution. I think we need numbers on this.  A more acceptable alternative would be to abandon one of the tower blocks targeted at investors planned for close to the A40 and replace it with a car park.  More revenue, less disruption to purely residential areas.

Alison Lumb ● 2888d

Just bumped into someone who lives on one of the roads, she knew nothing about it and is usually aware of local issues. This affects people living in close proximity to the identified roads as well as those living on them.  They could also be testing this arrangement in Acton and Southall before rolling out to West Ealing and Hanwell so it is probably a borough wide issue.  We are certainly looking for numbers to stop this, so please send to all your contacts throughout the borough.  I will protest the scheme on air pollution and rat running in neighbouring streets, proximity to schools and hopefully be able to dig up the appropriate stats.It would be good if all local community and neighbourhood groups could also respond.

Libby Kemp ● 2888d

Please can everyone express their views to highwayServices@ealing.gov.uk marked ORDER 4114. I know this information appears elsewhere in the thread, but just in case anyone missed it or can't be bothered to click through all the messages.....I've received (probably automatically generated) reply to my email objecting strongly to proposed parking changes:'Thank you for your e-mail in relation to the proposed traffic management order on the above proposed scheme. Your comments have been noted and will be considered as part of the statutory notice process. Please note, it may take a few weeks before we can inform you of the final outcome. This is due to the fact that we need to compile and respond to all comments after the statutory consultation period has concluded, before we finalise the statutory process. Yours sincerely Highways Scheme Design & Implementation Team (CPZ)'

Clare Gittins ● 2888d

I’m still amused at how the borough continues to vote for labor. This once again shows they don’t have residents interests at heart. They can’t pick up rubbish, clean the streets or manage parking properly because they can’t manage the finances properly. All this is driven by money. These are basic services other councils manage seamlessly. They are a joke. Maybe next time everyone will vote for a change. The borough needs it.

Nathan Macrides ● 2888d

This proposal is taking Acton back in time.  Before the introduction of CPZs in the area, our road was an all-day car park.  It was dangerous, toxic and dirty with discarded coffee cups, lunch, even bottles full of wee and more, left by drivers at the end of the day on our pavements.  Ealing Council are clearly seeing ££££££ signs.  Where is the integrity in this?Here are the roads affected:  Brougham Road, Creffield Road, Creswick Road, Emanuel Avenue, Essex Road, Faraday Road, Friars Gardens, Friary Road, Friars Way, Grafton Road, Grasmere Avenue, Hereford Road, Julian Avenue, Lynton Road, Messaline Avenue, Pierrepoint Road, Shalimar Gardens, Shalimar Road, St Dunstan’s Avenue, St Dunstan’s Gardens and Westbourne Avenue. They are all in walking distance of Acton Mainline station which is due to be serviced by the new Elizabeth line (Crossrail) which will substantially enhance transport links from the area.  As some say, it's cheap to park for Heathrow too, not to mention the Central Line.  To make your thoughts known....the deadline for submitting comments on this scheme is 11 June. You should email them to highwayServices@ealing.gov.uk quoting ORDER 4114 include your postal address.

Angela White ● 2888d

Is this proposal on Ealing Council website? Tried searching and could not see it. Not in agreement at all with this.

Ana Strachan ● 2890d

I have attempted to find the air pollution reports for this area, but failed miserably.  The "box" closest to Horn Lane and the A40 seems to have been decommissioned and I can't find any reports later than 2015.  Can anyone help as I would like complain about more cars and therefore more air pollution?

Libby Kemp ● 2890d

I did get some detailed maps back from Highways to show exactly where the pay areas are intended to go in my Zone M, which is part of the Southfield scheme.  As the notice suggests, they seem to have picked out any section of road that's not fronted by houses. Some are quite small bits at the ends of streets, but there are some long sections backing on to open spaces or blocks of flats that are possibly not heavily used by residents. The main concentration is around the end of the 94 bus route and not far from Chiswick Park Station, though it's doesn't seem quite as handy as your Zone MM will be to Acton Crossrail.It could be that these areas are underused by residents but I'm still not sure how these proposals fit in with Ealing Council's policy to discourage traffic and car usage.

Peter Evans ● 2890d

I hope everyone is writing in to complain. For some commuters and workers on the Park Royal trading estate it will make it cheaper to drive into London, park in Acton for working on the estate or to take Crossrail into the city, rather than pay the extortionate train fares from outside the M25. I know this as before the MM Zone I had friends who did just that - they came from as far away as Hertfordshire as they could park easily. They were crushed when the MM zone came in, so will be more than happy to hear about this. I'm also copying my response to Rupa Huq - I'm interested in her thoughts on this scheme.rupa.huq.mp@parliament.uk

Tania Bapuji ● 2890d

Peter, if you get an explanation please could you make public.  I can see why they may do this around Acton Main Line, but I don't understand Southfields?

Libby Kemp ● 2890d

They're proposing the same kind of scheme in the three zones across Southfield ward and the residents there are equally puzzled/concerned/unhappy about it. We're trying to get some explanation of the thinking behind it, otherwise it could be mistaken for a money-making scheme to encourage more parking and commuter traffic, which would be at odds with several of the council's other policies to reduce the impact of motor vehicles in the borough.

Peter Evans ● 2890d

Do you really think that any other party would be any better?What on earth is the difference between a flank wall and outside someone's house?  We all know that it is the Queen's highway and we don't have the right to park outside our own house don't we?  This is just going to exacerbate the parking problem.  The only concession I can see is if it was for a car club car or short term parking for the shops - or bicycle cages if requested - not the Serco run parking system for people going to the airport.  This will encourage more cars to come in who will be circling looking for parking spaces.

Philippa Bond ● 2890d

Politics aside Ealing desires better most things are getting worse that effect the residents in their daily lives. It's not helped by some narrow minded Councillors who have their own self-interests.  And we residents are unfortunately second fiddle a cash cow!!!

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2891d

Twenty, if not ten years ago I would have thought as you. The last few years have changed my thinking.  I would not put anything past this council including the statement on the Pitzhanger Manor website "However, the information you provide may be given to a third party if the ownership of Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery changes once the restoration project is completed in 2018." It makes me want to weep. This is not the Labour party I have campaigned for since the sixties.

Libby Kemp ● 2891d

The problem is that people who voted Labour will one day wakeup to the Labour lies (Another money making exercise).. Ealing Labour Group have pulled the wool over our eyes on many issues about many things. Ealing Cinema project, Affordable social housing across the borough, the environment rubbish collection and roads and how Bell has single handed saved our Hospital. The only thing they have successfully achieved is sucked the moral out of everyone living in the Borough Brexit hasn't helped “Things will only get worse”!!! And for the opposition parties they are nowhere to be seen.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2891d

It's hard to believe this is actually what is being proposed. I can only conclude that Councillors had their eye off the ball during the election period and an over-enthusiastic highways officer thought they had the okay to go ahead with the policy. Would be very surprised if it isn't quickly abandoned once the administration think through the implications of the changes which would be fairly catastrophic. £30 for two weeks holiday parking 20 minutes from Heathrow is a bargain few will pass up.

Andy Jones ● 2891d

Anyone else appalled by this? The thought of more cars rat running into those roads for parking makes me want to weep.  This is not what I expect from a Labour Council.  This lot have out Toried the Tories. I am not sure I have the energy for any more campaigns. but if someone else organises one I will certainly support.

Libby Kemp ● 2891d