Dukes Meadows Allotment Holders Dismayed at New Parking Charges
Council put up signs recently on Dan Mason Drive
Allotment holders say they have used this site has been used for parking for over fifty years
November 17, 2024
Plot holders at the allotments at Dukes Meadows are asking the council to make special provision for them after charges were introduced at their regular parking spot.
The council recently put up signs introducing new weekend parking restrictions at the large rectangular space on Dan Mason Drive by the river and oppose the entrance to the Dukes Meadows golf course.
One of the allotmenteers, Raymond Mooney says that they have been using the site to park for at least fifty years.
He adds, “As this is just outside our allotment there is nowhere else for us to park. Life is hard for some of us and the few hours each week we get to go to the allotment at the weekend is very rewarding as it enables us to get out of the house. Now the Hounslow Council have decided to charge
us. As we already pay rent for the allotment site, I think this is pretty rich.”
For some elderly people on low incomes this could mean a long walk to get to their plot or possibly the need to abandon it altogether.
One suggestion is that the allotment holders could be issued with a badge to exempt them from parking.
Cllr Grewal, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Recycling and Transformation at Hounslow Council, said, “To ensure improved management of the parking demand in Dukes Meadows and to reduce obstructive parking, the decision was taken in 2019 to introduce parking charges.
“We fully consulted on the proposed changes and took on board the concerns raised by allotment holders and other users of Dukes Meadows. As a result of this feedback, we published the consultation outcome and we agreed to reduce the days of the charges to Saturday and Sunday only. We also made the decision to reduce the parking charges to accommodate local users, which included the allotment holders.”
Charges were introduced in other parts of Dukes Meadows in 2022 although there was a delay in introducing the charges in the car park opposite the golf club entrance.
The council says that requests for dispensations from local users and/or organisations were considered and it was agreed that it would be impractical to offer these due to the various groups using the site and the negative impact this could have on the stated aim of improving parking management within Dukes Meadows.
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