Zero tolerance: TfL declares war on illegal Red Route parking
Transport for London has bought 21 new vehicle removal trucks and opened nine new car pounds to crack down on illegally-parked vehicles causing congestion and hazards on London’s Red Routes. That’s one truck for every 17 miles of Red Route.
Launching the scheme on 27 February, head of enforcement at TfL Patrick Troy said, “Our new [towaway] vehicles will help keep London’s busiest roads clear and the traffic moving.”
But the story on the ground has been very different. In the two weeks since the London Wide Removals Service started, TfL have tried to remove six vehicles from Stonecot Hill, none of which were obstructing traffic flow or causing a safety hazard. While all were technically breaking the law, they were safely away from the traffic on the main road in marked loading bays.
Now concern is growing over obstructions and hazards caused by TfL’s own removal vehicles.
- 27 February: TfL’s vehicle blocks the service road outside Favorite Chicken for twenty minutes. No-one can access the shops and parking bays further down. The car it is removing is parked safely out of the way in a loading bay.
- 5 March: TfL parks on the main A24 carriageway across the entrance to the service road outside Sutton Cafe. Access is totally obstructed.
- 7 March: A vehicle is parked safely and unobstructively in a loading bay outside Martells. TfL cones off the filter lane for the left-hand turn at the Woodstock traffic lights while it tries to remove it. Traffic making a left-hand turn is forced into the centre lane, adding to congestion and causing a hazard at the approach to this busy junction.
TfL’s vehicles have also been seen parking on corners, parking in bus stops and stopping in the middle of the road while setting down passengers — within 10 metres of the Woodstock crossroads.
These actions are consistent with the story reported in this week’s Sutton Guardian. A TfL truck parked on the zigzag approach to a pedestrian crossing at North Cheam while it removed a vehicle from another loading bay. North Cheam traders are now organising a campaign to have TfL’s operation reviewed.
If you park obstructively on a major road and cause a tailback or a hazard, you can expect to get towed away. Few would argue with that. But spare a thought for one local resident whose car was removed from the loading bay in Hill Top at half past seven on Saturday morning. Under TfL’s new parking regime his penalty was a trip to the pound in Croydon and a £260 fee to get his car back. If anyone from TfL can explain how this vehicle was interfering with traffic flow on the A24 Red Route – some 30 metres away – we’ll publish it gladly.
As for Stonecot Hill’s parking facilities in general, it’s been seven months since 2000 people signed a petition asking for TfL to review the local arrangements and consult them on bringing them into line with local needs. They’re still waiting.
Been towed away? Phone 020 7747 4747 to locate your vehicle. See TfL’s website for more information on vehicle removals.
About to be towed away? Unlock your vehicle and sit inside and it will be released. You’ll still get a parking ticket, but it’ll save you a trip to the pound and a £200 release fee. Don’t be put off by TfL’s staff. They have no right to prevent you entering your vehicle while it’s still on the ground.
Have you seen TfL’s removal trucks in action locally? Phone 020 8286 6696 or send us your story by email to editor@stonecothillnews.co.uk
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