More LIP - double parking and permits for residents

Here are some more of the broad rules that govern parking policy.

7.5.20 Parked More Than 50cm From The Kerb

This prohibition applied to Barnet with effect from the LLAA 2004.
The point of this rule was to stop people double parking, which used to happen all the time in places like Cavendish Square in central London, and no offence was being committed. I  don't know of anyone who has been ticketed for this in Barnet ( yes, do tell me otherwise ) but the sensible thing to do is to park reasonably close to the kerb, not too near, mind those lovely alloys and the tyre wall, and then you will avoid any problem.

Resident Permit Parking
7.6.3 To manage unnecessary intra-zone short journeys resident parking is zone-specific which completely ignores the fact that Barnet is a borough with an area of 86 sq. kilometres and means that you could do a straight line journey within the borough of about 10 miles which is not a journey that most people are likely to be able to do on foot or by bicycle. I think the council's zone argument is flawed and if you have a permit for one zone you should be able to use it in other zones.

7.6.4 By the same means the Council will also take steps to facilitate the use of courtesy cars if a resident's usual vehicle is not useable. This does not seem to be reality as the below email from a resident shows.

My son was in a car accident.  He rang Parking re dispensation for courtesy car.  Can only get 5 working days dispensation.  Longer than 5 working days either use Parking Voucher (£4 a day) OR switch resident's parking permit to courtesy car (free) BUT to switch back to his own car when repaired will cost admin charge of £20.

7.6.5 A system of reminder letters and automated telephone payment provides for easy renewal when a permit-holder's details remain the same. This means in fact that you will get one reminder letter provided there are not any computer glitches at that time. If you did not receive your reminder letter and then get a PCN this is a good reason to appeal.

7.6.7 The Council will recognise residents as being the regular keeper and user of company cars and hired vehicles for the purpose of permit issue provided suitable proofs are provided. However, if you work for a car dealership and bring a different car home every night there is no permit that you can get from the council to cover this.

7.6.10 As part of the Council's "Cleaner Greener" strategy the charges for a second and subsequent permit per household is higher than the first permit. In 2004/5 a three-tier approach was trialled but it was subsequently decided that the simplicity of a two-tier structure was preferable. A green permit is available at a discount for electric, LPG and similarly fuelled vehicles. The idea of charging more for a third vehicle went by the board as the council were desperate for money from any source. It is unfair as if you have 2 adults at home with 2 adult children who all need a car for work ( all travelling salespeople perhaps or driving instructors or...) then they are making less claim on housing and get penalised and one of them cannot even get a permit. A "green" permit this year at £50 costs more than last year's "petrol" permit at £40!

7.6.11 This is the current strategy, but the Council is also examining the provision of free parking for electric or all green-fuelled vehicles as a further incentive for change. Barnet Council seem to be driving in the opposite direction.

7.6.12 An element of restraint is provided in that there is a "per-household" limit of three permits. Properties in multiple-occupancy will be considered as separate households if each unit is an individual self-contained dwelling. So if you live in a house converted into 5 bedsits then each flat can have a permit.

7.6.14 In setting the charge the Council does so on the basis that aside from covering operational costs, the value of a permit to a holder may also be considered. The ownership of a permit gives the holder a right to use a vacant parking space ( although absolutely no right to a space ) - a right that a person without a permit does not have. Consequently Barnet sets a permit charge that is greater than that required to cover the operational costs of running a permit parking scheme in reflection of this value. Consideration will be given to affirming this by making a policy statement "freezing" the permit value in real terms, increasing it only in line with inflation. Inflation in Barnet in 2011 suddenly shot up to 150%.

7.6.16 As much of the borough is relatively recently controlled by CPZs the parking provision generally remains that provided after the initial consultation, implementation and six-month review. The Council intends to apply a policy of pro-active zone review as it is likely that local changes in land use will have changed the balance of local demand. Pro-active zone review does not often occur.

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Remember if you get a Penalty Charge Notice take a good look at it, talk to friends and neighbours who might be good at these things or send it to me to look at to see if it is properly issued. You will be amazed how often the council gets something wrong.

Yours appealingly

Miss Feezance

Crossover ticket cancelled

I expect that you remember this photograph of my friend's car ( the black one ) which got a ticket for supposedly parking adjacent to a crossover.

My friend wrote a letter and then he wrote another one and his informal appeal was rejected. So he wrote again asking for a copy of Barnet Council's photograph ( they are now available for recent tickets at least on the Barnet Council website ) and he got told that the amount had to be paid which was odd as they hadn't answered his letter. Anyway he kept on and now he has been told that the ticket is cancelled.

So all this started in September. Barnet Council have issued a ticket that is patently wrong, they have chased it and messed my friend about for 3 months which has caused him anxiety and wasted his time and although they do say "sorry for any inconvenience", as if you might not have had any?, I actually don't think that is good enough. When we make a mistake we pay. Surely when the council makes a mistake they should pay us?

The moral of the story is if your ticket is invalid stand up and fight and don't be bullied by the council into paying up. Barnet Council are in Private Eye this week for their bullying antics, see here

Have you had a defective ticket cancelled? It can feature anonymously on this blog if you send me the details.

Yours appealingly

Miss Feezance

Footway Parking - LIP policy

7.5.14 Footway (pavement) parking was prohibited throughout London in 1974. It can obstruct pedestrians, particularly the disabled and those with wheelchairs, buggies or prams and can endanger the visually impaired. It can damage the footway and services beneath it as footways are not, as a matter of course, designed to take the weight of vehicles. Pavements are for people, roads are for wheels.

7.5.15 The prohibition applies to every part of the highway that is not a carriageway and so also applies to islands and refuges, kerb extensions, verges, and hard-standings not made-up as footways. Whether the vehicle is causing an obstruction is not an issue. OK

7.5.16 The Council recognises that the 1974 Act permits an exemption for loading provided the vehicle is attended at all times. I didn't know this; so when the cash wagon parks 100% on the pavement outside the Halifax completely blocking the entire pavement, that is OK then?

7.5.17 The Council has provided authorised parking areas on footways in some streets, but there had not been a continuous programme of this and little has taken place for some years. Recently - catalysed by an increase in parking attendants, improved "contactability" of the enforcement service, and possibly a greater tendency of people to report footway parking, the Council has received requests to exempt more areas from the prohibition and in some cases it is recognised that this could be safely accommodated. I don't think that having now closed the parking office the service can be classed as more contactable. Have you tried getting through on the phone. If you are visiting from Croydon you will be fine. You can go knock on the office door of NSL there. Note that if you live in a narrow road where you have parked on the pavement for years ( as long as you leave room for pushchairs and wheelchairs, I hope ) the council will rationalise your request. Best if the whole street gets together, forms a residents association and sends in a request.

7.5.18 In 2006 a work programme will be set up to manage these requests, establishing clear criteria to maintain access along the footway for users, particularly the disabled and those with buggies and prams. As I just said above.

7.5.19 In several recent cases residents of certain streets have indicated that they have parked for many years in this manner, and believed that margin strips in block or bitumised macadam had been provided for this purpose. Given that in the past there may not have been enforcement levels to alert residents to the issues, the Council will in such circumstances withdraw enforcement in streets where active consideration is to be given to permitting footway parking. If you don't ask you don't get, except a PCN of course. Make sure you get agreement from the council in writing if you want it to stick. This will avoid the problem of corporate amnesia when the responsible officer moves on.

Yours appealingly

Miss Feezance

Parking - the Local Implementation Plan ("LIP")

Back in 2005 the LIP was written and set out council policy on various matters including in Chapter 7, the Parking Enforcement Plan. You can find it here on the council website. The latest multi year plan was recently consulted on. You might struggle to relate some of the policy to reality.

Parking and Enforcement Plan

INTRODUCTION

As a large outer-London borough Barnet has a considerable variety in its make-up. Vibrant diverse local centres of both town centre scale and smaller local centres depend on custom to remain in business and residents and visitors need to have access to a full range of leisure, cultural, and recreational activities and local services. It is inevitable that in a borough with high car ownership many people will seek to use their cars to do this, and this may lead to significant congestion unless parking is adequately managed at destinations. Delete the word "vibrant"; substitute "half-empty"?

Barnet has many railway and underground stations within its boundary, and these will attract commuter-parking by people continuing their journey on public transport. This can have a significant negative effect on local communities around stations. The parking and enforcement plan informs the manner in which these issues are addressed. I disagree with demonising commuters. We should be welcoming them to Barnet in the hope that they stop and shop here. If you live in the countryside near to Barnet where else would you travel from?

Context:

Barnet Council manages parking with the aim of maximising movement through the easement of congestion caused by inconsiderate and inappropriate parking, to make it easier for residents to park near their homes and to increase the turnover of parking to help users of local services, businesses and shops. Not with the intention of maximising income which seems to have crept into the equation?

One element of non-essential car journeys is that of commuters driving into the borough and parking on-street near stations to continue a journey - typically into central London. Barnet controls the amount of parking which is available to commuters and thus seeks to reduce this movement by means of controlled zones that provide primarily parking for those with a need to be in the area such as residents, local businesses and visitors including shoppers. 13 tube or Railtrack stations currently have CPZs associated with them. We are lucky to have such good transport links. Maybe a better solution would be to provide large reasonably priced car parks near to stations?

Overall an aim of parking controls is to create a safer environment for all road users making it more attractive to those who wish to walk, cycle and use public transport, whilst providing for necessary vehicle use (including motorcycles which are recognised to be an efficient use of road space). Barnet does not seem to have done well on the safety front. There is scant provision for cyclists; cycle lanes that stop at bus stops are stupid, pointless and dangerous.

In accordance with the RTRA 1984 the Council will have regard to seeking the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) and to provide suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway. This does not seem to have been the case at the Oakleigh Road North traffic lights where road traffic movement seems to have been given priority over pedestrians.

Barnet recognises that the continued vibrancy and diversity of services offered in its town centres and smaller retail and mixed-use areas depends on access by all who wish to use them. A balance must be found that encourages people to use local businesses in preference to out-of-town retail developments and this will be reflected in the provision of parking which encourages turnover whilst retaining facilities for loading and for the disabled. Access is being denied by insisting on cashless parking.

Car ownership is an aspiration of many who perhaps see it as granting freedoms they would not enjoy without it. Even if changes cause people to make less use of their cars, they will still wish to park them near to their homes and although Barnet has a great deal of between-wars development with driveways and off-street parking, in much of the Authority the only parking option is on the highway. The implementation of controlled parking zones and high charges are pushing more people to ruin the borough by concreting over their front gardens.

The Council is committed to consultation on parking controls. The local community and elected Members are involved in the process. Very little consultation is seen once a CPZ is in place.

The Council aims to be inclusive in its consultation and proposed CPZs and most other proposed parking restrictions will be the subject of direct mailings to households and businesses in a consultation area as well as street notices and statutory advertisements. Whilst the Council will have regard to petitions submitted, greatest weight is given to the views expressed through returned questionnaires as by this means the Council can be assured that the person participating was doing so without the pressures of a person canvassing for signatures. People take note. Fill in questionnaires. Go round the streets and encourage others to do the same!

The Council will consult at a formative stage of the process and is receptive to all possible outcomes including those which substantially alter the proposal, or which result in no scheme being implemented. Which area managed to avoid a CPZ?

After implementation all CPZs will be reviewed in the light of operational experience during which period the Council will encourage those affected to make representations about the scheme. This may result in changes being implemented. Look at your CPZ. If not reviewed ever, demand one but consult your neighbours first and decide what you want, maybe only a 1 hour a day restriction instead of all day?.

Overall it is therefore expected that car ownership is set to significantly rise in the Borough. However the current situation is that the borough's CPZs are able to accommodate the vehicles owned by residents that cannot be kept off-street and the permit pricing strategy and maximum entitlement is suitable for this purpose. Did something happen in April 2011 such that permit prices had to rise from £40 to £100 and visitor vouchers from £1 to £4 ?

Charges

In designating parking the Council sets charges for permits, vouchers and for paid-parking. In setting the former the Council recognises that the ownership of a permit gives the holder a right to use a vacant parking space - a right that a person without a permit does not have. This right has a value and Barnet therefore may set a permit charge that is greater than that required to cover the operational costs of running a permit parking scheme. The same principle applies to vouchers. This was not the basis on which CPZs were introduced.

The Council recognises that parking charges must not be set for the purpose of raising revenue. So why have they been?

The pay and display charge is set to encourage a turnover of parking. The Council has adopted a principle of setting a standard tariff structure across the borough, but has a range of maximum stay period from 1 hour to 4 hours and, where capacity is sufficient, for a period corresponding to the full permitted parking hours of the parking place. Car parks, apart from 3 for permit holders and 6 that are still free, all have all day hours. The two car parks in east Barnet Road used to be free and that kept the road clear. Now people are more likely to park in the side roads and walk. The permit holders only Strafford Rd car park only holds about 10 cars.

A hierarchy of parking need informs the design process and generally parking provision reflects parking need in the following order:

(i)    Disabled people.
(ii) Suppliers of goods and services.
(iii) Local residents and their visitors.
(iv) Businesses, their clients, customers and shoppers.

In consulting on parking controls, the Council considers that the views of those directly affected, ie frontagers of streets subject to the proposals have the greatest weight when consideration is given to representations and comments. However, all views expressed through the consultation process will be given consideration. Many streets within CPZs are now more or less empty because the controls operate all day and the space is thus wasted and the cars have to move further out from the middle.

Barnet has a three-year rolling programme of consultation and implementation of CPZs. In theory.

 

Yours appealingly

Miss Feezance

Fashion show, 17 December 2011

We invite you to attend the

Barnet Festive Fashion and Beauty Show
Church House, Wood Street, Barnet

Saturday 17^th December
12 noon – 2.00pm

The Fashion Students of Barnet and Southgate College join forces with the fashion and beauty retailers of Barnet to present stunning festive outfits to suit children, ladies and men of all sizes, ages and bank balances. The doors open at 12 noon for guests to enjoy some refreshments and receive a mini beauty treatment and free styling advice from our experts; the fashion show runs from 1.00pm – 2.00pm.

Please support our retailers and students
£3.00 entry fee on the door; Coffee included

Mr McArdle in action

Labour calls for special council meeting on parking

News from Labour

London Borough of Barnet Labour Group

We’re on your side

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Labour calls for special council meeting on parking

Labour councillors have requested that the Mayor convene an extra-ordinary council meeting urgently to discuss a Christmas and New Year parking amnesty to help residents and struggling local traders in Barnet’s town centres.

Under the council’s constitution five councillors can request the Mayor to call a special meeting of Full Council. The Mayor can accept or refuse the request. The meeting must be called within 7 days of the notice being presented to the Mayor, although there is no time limit by which the meeting must take place. If the Mayor refuses, or does not call the meeting within the 7 days, any five members may themselves call an extra-ordinary meeting.

The Labour motion is:

"Council notes the eye-watering parking charge increases that have been introduced this year, the proposal to increase parking charges by a further 5% next year, and the introduction of cashless parking which has resulted in fewer people shopping in our town centres and more and more local traders and businesses suffering as a consequence.

Council asks Cabinet to urgently introduce a Christmas and New Year parking amnesty in our town centres with immediate effect, to run until the 16^th January 2012 in order to help local traders and businesses in our town centres over the Christmas and New Year sales period.

Council also asks that Cabinet review the introduction of last year’s parking charge increases, and the proposal to increase parking charges in the borough by 5% next year."

Labour councillors have been calling for a Christmas parking amnesty for several weeks including at Business Management Scrutiny on 16 November.

 

Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Kath McGuirk said:

“The parking charge increases this year and the move to cashless parking has really depressed footfall in our local town centres, and many traders are suffering.

We need to do all we can to try and give local traders and businesses a boost in the final few shopping days until Christmas, and during the New Year sales – this is a real chance for the Tories to listen to what businesses are saying and do something to help them.”