Parking changes were not well publicised
I am not sure exactly which ‘misinformation’ Cllr Cannon is referring to (Viewpoint. February 18) but it may be the fact that RBWM failed to fully inform the administrators of the residents only selfadministered parking schemes (ROSAPS) of all the options open to us following the decision to apply charges.
The first notice of the change was received in August 2020 which stated that there were only two available options.
Option 1 was to join the standard RBWM permit scheme, or Option 2 was to revert to unrestricted parking and the chaos that goes with it.
The only link given in that notice was to the RBWM website – where one found the totally unsatisfactory standard parking permit arrangement.
It is the same scheme that was rejected by the residents of Laburnham Road nine years ago.
There was zero mention of the ability
‘…to choose to carry on EXACTLY as they are…’.
It was only through extended discussions with RBWM officers that we discovered the existence of that option, albeit one where we would now have to pay for our permits.
The various ROSAPSs in the Borough were established according to the circumstances of the road or street.
In the case of Laburnham Road (and others) it was to stop our road being swamped by commuters, shoppers, and those holidaying from Heathrow.
They were all seeking to park for free. It was not uncommon for a resident to return from the ‘school run’ and have to park several hundred yards away.
The introduction of the resident only arrangements were totally successful.
We managed any unauthorised visitors ourselves and rarely called upon the services of the civil enforcement officers (CEOs).
The cost to RBWM over the past nine years has been minimal – just six posts and signs.
The choices described by Cllr Cannon are not realistic or practical.
Either we allow our road to be used as a free car park by commuters et al, or we have to pay for the ‘privilege‘ of the road being restricted to residents and their visitors.
The commuters that get up early enough already enjoy free parking in Lower Boyndon Road, but the late arrivals then try their luck in the surrounding roads.
Just because we happen to be located within walking distance of the railway station and town centre, we now find an additional annual cost has been imposed upon us.
Furthermore, we now have to rely on CEOs to come and monitor the situation.
It would appear that no additional CEOs are to be employed.
I find it strange, with additional income being raised from charging residents, that it cannot be used to provide the service for which we will now have to pay.
Perhaps the money will have to be used to remove the posts and signs where the existing schemes choose to change status.
More likely, in my opinion, it is a cynical financial decision with the money disappearing into the council coffers to fill the holes that exist …and I don’t mean potholes!
The claim that the council is listening to the wishes of the residents is insincere. Given a free choice the residents would choose to make no changes at all.
MIKE PETERSON
Administrator Laburnham Road Self-Administered
Residents Only Parking Scheme