Forum Topic

CAR CLUB PARKING

I live in a private block of flats where there is insufficient parking for the residents and we pay £75 (used to be £45) for a permit.  Just outside my block there is residents parking for about 4 cars - even though there are 12 flats, so many of us have to park in the surrounding roads.  This morning I was aghast to see that Ealing Council had marked part of the resident parking bays as "Club Car parking Only" thereby reducing the actual parking spaces for 12 flat owners from 4 to 3 !!!  I find it incredulous that they shoud be able to hike the parking permit fee by nearly 50% and then decrease the actual parking by 25% - I really dont understand how they get away with doing this sort of thing!!  Surely they are accountable to someone or something?

Natalie Mcdermott ● 5428d7 Comments

You are lucky you are allowed to purchase a residents' permit. Planning permission may have been for a low car use building.What about the people already living in the surrounding streets when your block was planned - all those flats proposed!http://www.plan4sustainabletravel.org/key_themes/parking/There's generally more than one viewpoint.

Philippa Bond ● 5428d

yes and your view point is clearly different to mine.  I have lived in my flat for over 30 years and my block of flats was built in the 1930's and was actually there long before houses in "surrounding streets".  So your comment is irrelevant.

Natalie Mcdermott ● 5428d

I suppose the idea is to encourage people to use the Club Car scheme.  That way you would not have to purchase a permit.

Dee Cook ● 5427d

I have no objection to them in principle - I think they are a good idea but I don't think they should make it more difficult for people who actually live in an area and pay Council Tax and pay for a Parking Permit!  After all, it is not residents fault if Ealing Council let developers build all sorts of new properties that have insufficient parking facilities.  Many people drive cars because they actually need them not because they want them.

Natalie Mcdermott ● 5427d

Which is exactly why you have to watch what is going to planning - if you ever get to find about it.I think there are plenty of people who wonder why they have to pay so much for a Residents' Permit when they can't actually find anywhere to park.  Can the Council just go on taking money and issuing them?  Is there a point after which they should say 'No' or is that unfair too?

Philippa Bond ● 5427d

When a couple of years ago the council proposed turning two parking spaces in my road's cpz into Car Club only I recd a notice (planning?) advising of the proposal. I would ask the council about the consultation route they followed and how you only found out after the event. Good luck, Iain

Iain Muir ● 5427d

Many Thanks  Iain and Phillipa, I shall write to them - however like Ian I received a notice asking for opinion as to a Car Club Space  months ago to which I responded with obvious bjections - that was it, next thing thing the white box is drawn!!!!  They really are a law unto themselves and behave in a very underhanded manner.

Natalie Mcdermott ● 5427d