Council seeks residents' views on possible parking scheme

Hounslow Council have sent consultation documents to every household in the Grove Park and Strand on the Green areas earmarked for possible parking scheme.

The consultation follows complaints from a number of residents about parking difficulties caused by workers, commuters and holiday makers using Kew Bridge and Chiswick Stations.

A number of local businesses also believed that they are losing trade because their customers are unable to park in the area because the available parking is taken up by commuters.

This consultation is an opportunity for residents to comment on parking in their area and indicate whether they would like their road to be included in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

Questionnaires need to be completed and returned to Hounslow Council by 10 July 2009.

A CPZ is suggested as a means of helping to remove commuter or other long term parking from the area however it would only be introduced where there is majority support.

If there is majority support for a CPZ in the area, the Council will produce a draft scheme design and consult again on this. They have pledges to hold a public exhibition of the proposals and give residents an opportunity to give their feedback on the design.

Below is a summary of the key points of how CPZs operate. If you require any further information contact the Parking & Developments Team on 020 8583 4864 or email: traffic@hounslow.gov.uk

• All kerbside space within a CPZ boundary is controlled by either yellow lines or parking bays, unless it is within a private road or private parking area.
• Parking Bays are marked and signed as either ‘Resident Permit Holder’, ‘Business Permit Holder’ or ‘Pay & Display’ bays. These may also exist in combination as ‘triple use’ bays (Resident & Business Permit holder and pay & display). In residential streets, the majority of bays are ‘Resident Permit Holder’ for use by residents and their visitors.
• Single or double yellow lines are introduced where it is not safe to park or where parking is likely to cause an obstruction, such as at road junctions and corners, and across driveways.
• The operational times at which the CPZ will operate will be decided as part of the consultation on the detailed CPZ design.
• Parking in bays, during the chosen operational hours, requires either a permit or a payment fee from the pay & display machine. Fees are charged for all permits and the current permit charges depend on whether an all day scheme or a shorter scheme (such as 2-hours only) is introduced.

For all day schemes, the charges are:

Residents’ Permits:

• 1st permit is £60 per year,
• 2nd permit is £80 per year and
• 3rd and subsequent vehicles £130 per year.

Residents’ Visitor Permits:

• £15 per booklet.

Business permits:

• £400 per year for commercial vehicles and £635 for private vehicles

Medical & Carer permits:

• £32.50 per year

For short duration schemes (e.g. 2 hours), the permit charges are

Residents’ Permits:

• 1st: £40
• 2nd: £55
• 3rd: £80

All other charges are as for all-day CPZs.

• Only bona fide residents and businesses within the CPZ boundary will be eligible to apply for permits. Proof of residency and ownership of vehicle/s will be required. Existing on-street ‘disabled parking bays’ will be retained.
• The council will enforce the CPZ during its operational times. A vehicle not displaying a valid permit or ticket from a pay & display machine will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and may also be towed away.

The full consultation including the questionnaire can be found here. If you require additional copies of the questionnaire email traffic@hounslow.gov.uk

June 18, 2009