My understanding from a Freedom of Information request was that there were 20 votes in support and 290 against. Democracy in action in RBG. By the way, work on the new bays started yesterday so very clear the Council couldn't care any less what residents think. 'Some parking provisions for non-permit holders' means a few meters on street corners 😂🤣.
If the numbers on for and against are true, then I don't see how the club can sit by and watch
I've now realised that as my missus is a community midwife in the Greenwich borough, she has a parking permit to park wherever - so I'll actually be able to park closer to the ground that I currently can (and with less traffic!)
so crack on with it...........only joking, basically it's a bit of a disaster for the club I think if it goes through and I'm hoping the council can/will see sense on a matchday (not holding out much hope though)
These concerns were highlighted in a recent consultation in which residents of the area surrounding the stadium highlighted their concerns about high traffic levels on residential roads and being unable to park near their homes. In highlighting their concerns, residents have asked the Council to consider introducing match day parking controls.
This doesn't sit with the fact that local residents who responded to the consultation were 15 to 1 against the controls. I skimmed through the responses and can only recall a very few who mentioned match days.
I have been promised a conversation with my local ward counsellor (Charlton) tomorrow.
CAST sent our survey and selection of the comments to the cabinet member for environment, climate change and transport last week as she is the person who makes the final decision on the match day controls.
Its just another labour run borough implementing their car friendly policies, just like many of the others in London.
Yup.
Sadly, all the petitions and opposition will get you nowhere here. RBGs car hating Labour politicians have already decided to make driving in the Borough impossible and nothing you say or do will change their mind.
These concerns were highlighted in a recent consultation in which residents of the area surrounding the stadium highlighted their concerns about high traffic levels on residential roads and being unable to park near their homes. In highlighting their concerns, residents have asked the Council to consider introducing match day parking controls.
This doesn't sit with the fact that local residents who responded to the consultation were 15 to 1 against the controls. I skimmed through the responses and can only recall a very few who mentioned match days.
I have been promised a conversation with my local ward counsellor (Charlton) tomorrow.
CAST sent our survey and selection of the comments to the cabinet member for environment, climate change and transport last week as she is the person who makes the final decision on the match day controls.
Yes, the evidence presented doesn't really bear out the council's assertion. I've got no real evidence for this, but there's a fairly noisy residents' group in the streets near the station which seems to have the ear of the council and I suspect this may be down to them, but this is a hunch more than anything else.
If I lived in the streets to the east of The Valley I probably would find matchday parking a pain - and there is, more broadly speaking, a parking/traffic problem caused by local residents, school parents and the presence of the retail parks - but the current plans are both over-the-top and inconsistent.
One thing I've noticed in social media responses is that some residents (probably those who drive) think public transport connections are brilliant and haven't really thought through (or, as is the way on social media, don't want to think through) quite what a public transport journey from, say, Meopham would involve.
Thats just the thing, public transport, if you live in Charlton and the surrounding areas, is excellent. Less so from the myriad of places we all are coming in from on a matchday. Not really a concern to me if I am not working Saturday morning, have nothing to do Saturday evening. I'm on the train, easy. Midweek, not an option now.
I'd advise anyone who hasn't and is going to be up the creek if this inevitably gets green lit even though it is insane to write polite but firm and clear letters, emails to the local councillors.
Thats just the thing, public transport, if you live in Charlton and the surrounding areas, is excellent. Less so from the myriad of places we all are coming in from on a matchday. Not really a concern to me if I am not working Saturday morning, have nothing to do Saturday evening. I'm on the train, easy. Midweek, not an option now.
I'd advise anyone who hasn't and is going to be up the creek if this inevitably gets green lit even though it is insane to write polite but firm and clear letters, emails to the local councillors.
Yep. Even though the trains are much worse than they used to be, I can bumble out of here and get to a lot of places on both sides of the Thames without too much effort. If you're going west or north, it's alright.
But the links out towards most of Kent and even outlying bits of SE London are crap and fiddly - there's a reason I've never made it to a Charlton women's match at VCD on a Sunday, and that's because getting to the back end of Crayford is a bit of a mission.
Perhaps the council could start by telling residents that it is forbidden to block a legitimate parking space with traffic cones or planks of wood just because someone has the audacity to park there every other Saturday afternoon.
Residents need to be reminded that they do not own the space outside their house & in 99.9% of cases the football ground was there before they were. A marked bay is for ALL road users, not just for residents or, as some people think, just for them.
Thanks for the link InspectorSands...... I feared that was the position as on the link by RBG it does state " Where parking is only for certain people- like the people who live and work there".
I did phone, and emailed RBG, but not yet a reply as to where the disabled bays are?.
So I shall be phoning the mobility team to ask where are the bays?, on 0208921 2387.Email: mobility-duty@royal greenwich.gov.uk.
Failing that an RBG car park, then an Uber I guess. Luckily, I have 2 sons who can assist me.
Might be worth someone asking Greenwich to disclose their Equalities Impact Assessment for this scheme under Freedom of Information legislation. They are likely required to consider the impact on people with disabilities and the elderly, and I’d wager they haven’t, or at least not to a standard that would satisfy a judge. We could then consider a judicial review.
My understanding from a Freedom of Information request was that there were 20 votes in support and 290 against. Democracy in action in RBG. By the way, work on the new bays started yesterday so very clear the Council couldn't care any less what residents think. 'Some parking provisions for non-permit holders' means a few meters on street corners 😂🤣.
For the mini leisure centre planning application in Swanley there were over 600 comments received by SDC, of which around 10 were in favour and some of those were ‘purchased’ by the council.
Might be worth someone asking Greenwich to disclose their Equalities Impact Assessment for this scheme under Freedom of Information legislation. They are likely required to consider the impact on people with disabilities and the elderly, and I’d wager they haven’t, or at least not to a standard that would satisfy a judge. We could then consider a judicial review.
Pico/Weegie can the CAST do this as it would carry more weight than an individual?
Might be worth someone asking Greenwich to disclose their Equalities Impact Assessment for this scheme under Freedom of Information legislation. They are likely required to consider the impact on people with disabilities and the elderly, and I’d wager they haven’t, or at least not to a standard that would satisfy a judge. We could then consider a judicial review.
Pico/Weegie can the CAST do this as it would carry more weight than an individual?
I actually think it would carry more weight coming from a RBG resident who is elderly and / or has a disability, who currently attends matches in a car because of this, and who would be affected, rather than from a representative group who would be perceived as having a vested interest. Of course, CAST would be aware of the request and would have the weight to follow up if the affected resident was not responded to appropriately.
Might be worth someone asking Greenwich to disclose their Equalities Impact Assessment for this scheme under Freedom of Information legislation. They are likely required to consider the impact on people with disabilities and the elderly, and I’d wager they haven’t, or at least not to a standard that would satisfy a judge. We could then consider a judicial review.
Pico/Weegie can the CAST do this as it would carry more weight than an individual?
I actually think it would carry more weight coming from a RBG resident who is elderly and / or has a disability, who currently attends matches in a car because of this, and who would be affected, rather than from a representative group who would be perceived as having a vested interest. Of course, CAST would be aware of the request and would have the weight to follow up if the affected resident was not responded to appropriately.
It doesn’t make much difference who does the FOI as long as they ask the right question. The council has to respond anyway.
I think a judicial review would need to come from an organisation or individual that could show they are affected. CAST could represent such individual members. The law isn’t interested in whether they live in Greenwich as it applies regardless.
Might be worth someone asking Greenwich to disclose their Equalities Impact Assessment for this scheme under Freedom of Information legislation. They are likely required to consider the impact on people with disabilities and the elderly, and I’d wager they haven’t, or at least not to a standard that would satisfy a judge. We could then consider a judicial review.
Pico/Weegie can the CAST do this as it would carry more weight than an individual?
If you think of it, not being able to park somewhere for a 12 hour period is madness. Might as well just put double yellows everywhere and be done with it.
If you think of it, not being able to park somewhere for a 12 hour period is madness. Might as well just put double yellows everywhere and be done with it.
Without this sort of restriction where I live roads would become impassable during weekdays because cars parked on both sides of the road leave no room for passing. If you encounter a lorry or ambulance coming the other way you could end up backing a hundred yards up a hill to find the first "gap" in the parked cars.
But, in the evening and on weekends you can more or less park where you like. There is plenty of room so the congestion does not happen. There is usually parking within a hundred yards of the station.
Without a residents scheme there would be many people who could not park within half a mile of their home between 9 and 5 on weekdays unless they deliberately keep their car parked outside their house between 7am and 10am on weekdays. Not much fun if you have a morning hospital appointment!
I don't know what it is like around Charlton on match days but I think it would be worthwhile finding out what the actual problem is (if indeed there is one!) rather than assuming it is just madness or an attempt by the council to make money.
I've said before that this scheme will likely adversely impact on Charltons viability to complete at a high level.
It would make sense for any ambitious owner of the club to decant to the edge of the m25 on a greenfield site with shit loads of parking and f all trains. Another example of small mindedness not looking at the bigger environmental picture. Just like us outsourcing our manufacturing to China, at the same time claiming that we're reducing our carbon footprint when China increases it!
If you think of it, not being able to park somewhere for a 12 hour period is madness. Might as well just put double yellows everywhere and be done with it.
I don't know what it is like around Charlton on match days but I think it would be worthwhile finding out what the actual problem is (if indeed there is one!) rather than assuming it is just madness or an attempt by the council to make money.
Well, if you don't know what its like on match days you can't really comment...can you.
I've been driving & parking around the Valley for 30 years, so I think I have a bit of knowledge on the subject.
I have no problem with parking restrictions & resident only bays. What I have s problem with is just a complete ban on parking around the ground for a 12 hour stretch on a matchday. Seems like overkill to me & all it will do is 1) move the problem further out towards the Lido, where it is already jam packed on a Saturday and 2) people will stop coming altogether as getting to the ground by car is their only realistic option.
However did anyone see the story about how Greenwich borough let a load of parking fines go when people contested them? Essentially when you contest it the council has a certain amount of time to then respond and they failed to do so ON EVERY OCCASION because they had no staff manned on the task.
I only presume they've actually hired someone to look into parking in the area and this new scheme is to help pay their wage
Comments
so crack on with it...........only joking, basically it's a bit of a disaster for the club I think if it goes through and I'm hoping the council can/will see sense on a matchday (not holding out much hope though)
This doesn't sit with the fact that local residents who responded to the consultation were 15 to 1 against the controls. I skimmed through the responses and can only recall a very few who mentioned match days.
I have been promised a conversation with my local ward counsellor (Charlton) tomorrow.
CAST sent our survey and selection of the comments to the cabinet member for environment, climate change and transport last week as she is the person who makes the final decision on the match day controls.
Sadly, all the petitions and opposition will get you nowhere here. RBGs car hating Labour politicians have already decided to make driving in the Borough impossible and nothing you say or do will change their mind.
Where's the Valley Party when you need it !
If I lived in the streets to the east of The Valley I probably would find matchday parking a pain - and there is, more broadly speaking, a parking/traffic problem caused by local residents, school parents and the presence of the retail parks - but the current plans are both over-the-top and inconsistent.
One thing I've noticed in social media responses is that some residents (probably those who drive) think public transport connections are brilliant and haven't really thought through (or, as is the way on social media, don't want to think through) quite what a public transport journey from, say, Meopham would involve.
I'd advise anyone who hasn't and is going to be up the creek if this inevitably gets green lit even though it is insane to write polite but firm and clear letters, emails to the local councillors.
Residents need to be reminded that they do not own the space outside their house & in 99.9% of cases the football ground was there before they were. A marked bay is for ALL road users, not just for residents or, as some people think, just for them.
Really boils my piss.
I did phone, and emailed RBG, but not yet a reply as to where the disabled bays are?.
So I shall be phoning the mobility team to ask where are the bays?, on 0208921 2387.Email: mobility-duty@royal greenwich.gov.uk.
Failing that an RBG car park, then an Uber I guess.
Luckily, I have 2 sons who can assist me.
I actually think it would carry more weight coming from a RBG resident who is elderly and / or has a disability, who currently attends matches in a car because of this, and who would be affected, rather than from a representative group who would be perceived as having a vested interest. Of course, CAST would be aware of the request and would have the weight to follow up if the affected resident was not responded to appropriately.
https://www.castrust.org/2023/11/parking-update/
But, in the evening and on weekends you can more or less park where you like. There is plenty of room so the congestion does not happen. There is usually parking within a hundred yards of the station.
Without a residents scheme there would be many people who could not park within half a mile of their home between 9 and 5 on weekdays unless they deliberately keep their car parked outside their house between 7am and 10am on weekdays. Not much fun if you have a morning hospital appointment!
I don't know what it is like around Charlton on match days but I think it would be worthwhile finding out what the actual problem is (if indeed there is one!) rather than assuming it is just madness or an attempt by the council to make money.
It would make sense for any ambitious owner of the club to decant to the edge of the m25 on a greenfield site with shit loads of parking and f all trains. Another example of small mindedness not looking at the bigger environmental picture. Just like us outsourcing our manufacturing to China, at the same time claiming that we're reducing our carbon footprint when China increases it!
I've been driving & parking around the Valley for 30 years, so I think I have a bit of knowledge on the subject.
I have no problem with parking restrictions & resident only bays. What I have s problem with is just a complete ban on parking around the ground for a 12 hour stretch on a matchday. Seems like overkill to me & all it will do is 1) move the problem further out towards the Lido, where it is already jam packed on a Saturday and 2) people will stop coming altogether as getting to the ground by car is their only realistic option.
I only presume they've actually hired someone to look into parking in the area and this new scheme is to help pay their wage