Forum Topic

CPZ consultations in K1 (and K)

The lucky few who currently live in zone K1 are being reconsulted on the times for the CPZ alongside our more numerous neighbours in Zone K.K1 is currently on one hour morning and another in the afternoon and this has worked really well for us I think. We keep out the commutersWe pay lower feesIt's much easier and cheaper for visitors/builders/tradesman to park outside.I hope residents in Goldsmith Avenue, Baldwyn Gardens, Maldon Road and Cumberland Park will vote to keep things as they are. No CPZ isn't an option when we are surrounded by them and all-day seems over the top.The two hur CPZ has worked really well for us and i also hope Zone K residents will vote to move from all-day to the two option - because of the obvious benefits.

Sara Nathan ● 5664d37 Comments

The 2 hour a day scheme at the end of Goldsmith Avenue j/w St. Dunstans Avenue may be working well.  Although there is a sign on the post at this junction to say that the CPZ is all day - which no doubt has put people off parking at that end of the Avenue.But at the junction with Grafton Road, Goldsmith Avenue suffers from the constant movement of cars between the two roads, because Grafton Road is NOT in the CPZ scheme.I would suggest that if you can afford to run a car (and most people in Goldsmith Avenue would appear to run 2 cars - and very nice ones they are too) then they can afford to pay the extra CPZ fees.All builders factor into their estimates car parking charges - unless of course they are doing the work 'cash in hand'.  So if you supply them with parking tokens, then you should ask for a reduction in the estimate they supply.

Dee Cook ● 5663d

We live in Zone K and would welcome the change to just two hours a day. We are not near any of the stations, or the High Street, so why it is all day I do not know! Having to supply parking permits for tradesmen, such as Gas engineers who service the boiler, is an extra expense, that cannot be claimed back from the company!Dee, most of us who run cars are not rich enough not to notice paying £75 a year, plus the extra visitor permits. For some a car is not the 'luxury' you imply!

Amanda Knights ● 5662d

I hope the K people vote to change - it would liberalise the area while still performing the basic duty of keeping out commuters and long-stayers - and it has worked so well for us.My worry is that there isn't a percentage that have to vote to be valid - so, as we have seen in other CPZ consultations, it can depend on very few votes.Thus thinking " I sort of prefer two-hours" and NOT filling out the form, could be critical. In some areas it has come down to 20 or 30 residents make the decision for everyone.

Sara Nathan ● 5662d

Recent visits by British Gas to service our central heating system revealed that they do not require residents who use their service to supply them with parking permits.Reputable builders will include in their estimates an amount for the purchase of any parking vouchers.  So you need to enquire when accepting any estimates if you are expected to supply vouchers.  If yes, then you need to take this into account when deciding on what estimate you acccept.Is the Council saying that should residents vote NO to a CPZ, that they are going to take all the existing CPZ's away?What is the purpose of the survey?

Dee Cook ● 5662d

Do you know if there is any consultation on Zone K, and how to vote?

Charles Middleton-Smith ● 5662d

I remain unconvinced that 2 hours would work quite as well near a Station (Acton Central) as it may do a bit further away.Why wouldn't people drop off their car in our street - Goldsmith Road - to hop on the train to Kew or Richmond if they get a free 4 hour window? I know I would use it that way if i didn't live here already! We are already having trouble at times parking in our road, how would that not get any worse with 4 hour free windows? Why not provide more parking bays near Churchfield Road and leave Zone K intact?

Susan Hauser ● 5662d

According to the council, they sent out consultation papers (with options to vote on) to Zone K and Zone K1 residents last Friday, but they seem to be just trickling through.As for how you should vote, the Churchfield Community Association is campaigning for the two-hour option - that is, one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you live in Zone K, you may have (should have!) received a CCA leaflet about this, but if not, here is what it says:Residents in CPZ Zone KVOTE FOR A TWO-HOUR CPZ!The controlled parking zone (CPZ) in Zone K in and around Churchfield Road now operates continuously from 9.30am to 5.30pm. The council will soon be asking you to vote on whether this should be changed. The Churchfield Community Association (CCA) believes that changing the CPZ to a two-hour restriction – one hour in the morning, one in the afternoon – will greatly benefit both residents and businesses in the area.THE PROBLEM1 The present CPZ restrictions mean that it's very difficult for people in cars to stop to shop or to eat in the restaurants or use local services. This has had a drastic effect on the businesses in the area.2 Residents have to pay the maximum parking fee of £75 per annum.3 Both residents and businesses face great difficulties (and expense) when workmen and others need to park near their premises to carry out work, make deliveries, etc.THE SOLUTIONChange the CPZ restriction to only two hours, one in the morning (e.g. 9–10am) and one in the afternoon (e.g. 3–4pm).A two-hour restriction discourages commuters from parking all day but makes it much easier for shoppers and others to visit residents and businesses in the area. Many of the other CPZs in the borough operate like this, including Zone K1 just to the north of Zone K, and it works well.THE BENEFITS1 All sorts of businesses may survive better in these difficult times and new ones may open, leading to a livelier and more economically viable community.2 Having a limited CPZ would reduce the annual residents' parking fee per car within Zone K from £75 to £40.3 Having the CPZ operate for only two one-hour periods a day will make it much easier – and cheaper – for residents to have workmen and others visit their homes.SO PLEASE VOTE FOR THE TWO-HOUR CPZ WHEN YOU GET YOUR VOTING PAPERS FROM THE COUNCIL!

Nancy Duin ● 5662d

Our street is zone K. We haven't heard about any consultation.

Nina Thomas ● 5661d

We haven't had anything either, only the CCA note.

Amanda Knights ● 5661d

Bizarre - in K1 where I am - we weren't expecting a consultation and had been told nothing about one but the forms all arrived on Monday, rather to our surprise.Yet the CCA were informed on Friday that the K zone forms had been sent out - so much rushed leafletting ensuedPS if you can't afford a gym, may I suggest delivering leaflets in Chaucer Road as the perfect substitute for a step class: down five steps to each basement flat, up to pavement, up six steps to each main front door, down to pavement. exhausted after 40 minutes!

Sara Nathan ● 5661d

Why are the Council consulting?  What prompted this?

Dee Cook ● 5661d

People at the ward forums have asked for a re-consultation on the hours of zone K over the last three years or so. The forum is there to discuss issues like this and money was set aside ages ago - 2009 budget maybe.It's been discussed at every forum since then.(ie at least nine times!)So no surprise - unless I suppose you don't go and don't look at the minutes.

Sara Nathan ● 5661d

Still no consultation documents by post, but I found a consultation questionnaire on the Ealing Council website, which I have just completed. (On the council home page, click on the purple 'Have your say' button, then 'Current consultations', then 'Acton Central controlled parking zone review' then on either Zone K or Zone K1, which ever is relevant to you.) http://www2.ealing.gov.uk/services/council/consultations/current_consultations/Maybe they have only sent them out to K1 residents!

Amanda Knights ● 5661d

That would be just too perverse!

Sara Nathan ● 5661d

Noticed an interesting variant in CPZ hours in some streets near Ealing Common today: 3 separate hour prohibitions of 9-10, 3-4 and additionally 6-7. Presumably to stop people parking there all evening and taking the tube into town?Wonder how they price them - more than 2x1hr but less than all day?

Lorna Dodd ● 5661d

Ealing Common Zone Annual Fee £40.Times 9am-10am  3pm -4pm  6pm-7pm

John McNamara ● 5661d

Never heard of three 1 hours before.Mark you, using Acton Central as a spring board for a night on the tiles is just perverse; parking is free in the evenings around both East Acton and Acton Town from where the trains run more frequently, to more central places, and until much later.So driving to Acton Central would be weird.

Sara Nathan ● 5661d

Thankyou Amanda my situation is simialr to yours as set out in earlier post

Charles Middleton-Smith ● 5660d

I have just completed the survey online.  We have not received anything by post.I assume each person in the household can complete the survey.  It does not say they have to be over 18 so both my children have also registered their wish to change the scheme.

Andy Magee ● 5658d

My understanding is that the consultation allows for only one response per household - else this is consulation is turning into a farce.I'll get my cat to send in a response........!

Dee Cook ● 5658d

The chap in charge at Ealing Council says there was a delay at the printers but the Zone K forms should have been sent out Friday so should be arriving today or tomorrow.My K1 paper information sheet doesn't say how many (moggies or not) per household can complete the form - maybe cos they only send one per household so don't need to. Is it different online?

Sara Nathan ● 5658d

This response from the chap running the consultation:"Only one form per-household is accepted. The reason being, if we accepted multiple responses from one household, the consultation becomes unbalanced as those households with multiple occupancy and/or large families would have a greater say than those that lived on their own. So while we cannot stop larger families responding online, only one response per household will be considered."

Sara Nathan ● 5658d

I got my form in the post today.

Chris Hurley ● 5658d

Sara, thanks for taking the trouble to confirm what would appear to have been sensible approach to this consultation exercise.  I can stand my cat down........

Dee Cook ● 5658d

That's OKBut I sort of wonder whether it's fair on people who may genuinely disagree with each other though they live in the same household. I understand that can happen even in well-regulated homes.

Sara Nathan ● 5658d

Yes Sara, you are right there! I think it needs to be changed to two hours only, but my son doesn't see why it needs to be changed, but then he isn't the one paying for the resident's or visitor's permits!

Amanda Knights ● 5657d

You guys should think yourselves lucky and be grateful for your two hours; we here in Lower Acton (!!!) - Valetta Road, to be precise - are lumbered with a CPZ in operation from 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday (yes) for no discernible reason. Good luck up there!

Samantha Hill ● 5655d

Samantha, are you always able to park near to your home Monday-Sunday?  Are there always spare spaces Monday-Sunday?    For those who have purchased a parking permit.

Dee Cook ● 5655d

Well there arent always places in K1 - but the problems are in the late evening - not any time likely to be covered by any CPZ hours.

Sara Nathan ● 5655d

I really wonder what has having an expensive car have to do with having to pay an extra CPZ charge when the existing one works fine in K1 Doris?As far as I see you dont drive and your husband's nice car stays unmoved for days in front of your house so I wonder how will your opinion add any value to the consultation. Perhaps if your son has moved out (and your cat doesnt drive) some of us are very proud to have children that park their cars on the streets with having paid for a permit.The consultation is to verify whether the existing enforcement works for most and not to count how many cars per household and at which value (although they do ask how many cars are in the household)

Veki Pavlova ● 5651d

I may be missing something but what are the 'obvious benefits' of less restricted parking? If people would like to drive to Churchfield Road and the surrounding streets there are plenty of free 1 hour parking spaces for people to use should they wish, or indeed parking meters. There is no need to reduce the cost of permits. If people were made to pay more, or permits were limited to one per household, then there would be alot more parking spaces available for people who have permits. I have had workmen at my flat on many occasions and it is no trouble whatsoever to give them 3 hour or daily parking permits which can be bought simply and cheaply online from the Ealing Council website. If the 2 hour CPZ comes in then you are incentivising people to drive. More congested roads and more difficulty for residents to park will not lead to a livelier and more economically viable community. It certainly will not be more harmonious.It is virtually impossible to park on Alfred Road in the evening. The road is full of taxis and work vans all without permits, who flood to the area as soon as the 5.30pm restriction has ended. This is exacerbated by people driving short distances to the Bingo Hall. Easing the restriction hours will clearly not help this situation. The two-hour CPZ is very short sighted and will not achieve any of it's aims. It would lead to more congestion and more difficulty in parking for residents. A longer CPZ, not shorter, is required.

Richard Pennington ● 5650d

Actually there are very few short stay parking slots and meters in and around Churchfield Road. And the small businesses do find that inhibiting.The permits are not - nor are about to be - limited to one per household so I am afraid that does not affect the argument. If you have builders over quite a long time, the cost does build up - though I agree, it's on a small scale.I don't think easing the hours will make much of a difference to the evening parking: in Goldsmith Avenue where we have the two hour parking, the really tricky time is after about 2130 when everyone who lives in the street is at home. We never have a problem in the day or generally in the early evening. And no-one has a CPZ beyond 2130 in Ealing as far as I am aware..not that it would make a difference if it is indeed local residents coming home to roost that leads to pressure on spaces.We hope that an easing of restrictions will benefit everyone: residents and businesses alike in being more flexible and cheaper to run. I can't see why it would increase traffic: there might be a few more shoppers I suppose but with luck they will be circulating less to try and find one of the few existing spaces so that might even lead to a drop in congestion. There are many incentives and disincentives to car-ownership and amount of driving but it would be surprising if changing the hours in part of one CPZ would really make a massive difference among car-owners who don't live in K1 (and there is no reason to suppose it will have any such effect on those who DO live in K1)The consultation closes on April 15th.

Sara Nathan ● 5650d

I agree with Richard.  Limiting permits to one per household is an excellent idea.  And would encourage people to walk and decrease the amount of pollution in our residential area - and would create a fitter healther population less of a burden on the National Health Service.  Remember Horn Lane is the 2nd most polluted location in all of London. We should be discouraging car usage and not encouraging it.Are we saying that local people - those who say reside within half a mile of Churchfield Road - cannot walk to the shops?  Or are you looking to encourage those who do not live in the area to visit the shops, thus increasing traffic movements in the area? and therefore congestion and pollution?Parking is not a problem at the bottom end of Goldsmith Avenue near to St. Dunstans Avenue - where you live Sara, probably because the large sign at the junction says no parking all day - and that puts people off.It is different at the other end of Goldsmith Avenue at the junction with Grafton Road, because Grafton Road is NOT in a CPZ. So we have this charade of those in Grafton who do not not have parking permits juggling their cars and especially large white vans around all day to fit in with the 2 hour restriction.  So why not let's have a 2 hour parking restriction at your end of Goldsmith Avenue and an all day 7 day a week arrangement in Goldsmith Avenue near to the junction with Grafton Road !!

Dee Cook ● 5649d

All that one per household would do round here is encourage yet more people to dig out their front gardens and convert them to hard-standing. yuck!But anyhow there is no sign that one permit per household is an imminent policy so it's really not worth debating in the context of this consultation.What we are saying is that flexibility helps local residents and businesses - it may be local elderly, disabled, otherwise encumbered, localish people or maybe those who would like to do a cookery class or pick up some decorating supplies from PAINT. Some flexibilty would help all of those.I don't think the sign at the bottom of Goldsmith Avenue makes any difference - there is no evidence it does and we are closer to shops and restaurants and you might think would be more crowded but are not.The top end abuts a no CPZ area but am I right in thinking one is coming there - which should allay your traumas, Doris.Some might see all day - and why not all night while you are about it? - seven days a week as just a tad excessive.

Sara Nathan ● 5649d

There is no need for 7 days restriction and I am definitely against it as most people including myself have a life so called social life and I like my friends/family to be able to park without worries at some times during the week and all weekend. I have young children and would like to be able to organise play dates every now and again and not everyone lives within easily walking distance.There are certainly so many empty spaces at the top end of your road Doris each time I walk or drive past and your husband has been able to secure a parking right in front of your house at all times and it doesnt move for days (and you may conclude what is the point of him having a car).As Sara pointed out not everyone is fit enough to walk to the shops and all needs should be taking into consideration rather than just looking from personal point for view.

Veki Pavlova ● 5649d

I believe the two-hour CPZ is is now in place.The businesses in Churchfield Road seem pleased.But, irritatingly, at least one is publicly attributing the change to pressure put on the council by Sainsbury opening their new store.I believe it's wholly a coincidence (unless residents find they hate it in which case it's ALL down to Sainsbury's!)

Sara Nathan ● 5241d

Just for the record, the Churchfield Community Association has been campaigning for this for FOUR - yes, FOUR - years, and it's only owing to our persistence that it has happened at all.Many thanks to all those who canvassed last year before the last residents' survey, and thanks also to Anthony Crane, a 'CPZ & Parking Engineer' in the council's Highways Department, who always communicated with us, responded positively to our suggestions and remained ever so polite in the face of much criticism.

Nancy Duin ● 5241d