The Sutton Guardian have run an article about the Stonecot Hill parking petition on page four of today’s edition.
I do not and cannot speak for everyone that lives, works and visits Stonecot Hill. That is why the parking petition simply calls for a full consultation of everyone concerned about the issue. However, TfL’s spokesman entirely misunderstands many shopkeepers’ points of view and so I have written this response:
It is unsurprising that parking on Stonecot Hill’s Red Route (A24) is so difficult as Transport for London (TfL) seem to have no idea what local people’s concerns are nor what they are asking for.
TfL’s spokesman is entirely right in saying that extending parking times might damage local businesses. Some people might park for very long periods and prevent passing motorists from stopping to shop. That is why local shopkeepers are calling for more short-term parking and less long-term parking. Shopkeepers would also like to see some of the 20-minute loading bays turned into 20-minute parking bays to enable more people to stop, shop quickly and leave without risking a fine.
Over 2000 people signed the Stonecot Hill parking petition because their concerns and complaints about the way TfL are managing this area have been ignored. We look forward to TfL announcing a definite date for a public consultation to ensure that all local residents, businesses and shoppers are heard at last. We are still waiting.
The Stonecot Hill parking petition has closed with 2004 signatures. It was run for an extra week to bring the total above the 2000 point.
The petition calls on mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London to review parking arrangements on Stonecot Hill due to widespread dissatisfaction with the current regulations and the way they are enforced.
Local politicians are backing the petition. Liberal Democrat councillors Tony Brett Young and Abigail Lock visited Stonecot Hill recently to talk to shopkeepers and local residents about the issue. For the Conservatives, council candidate Ray Hilldrup has been helping to collect signatures locally.
The mayor’s office has not yet responded to a request on 1 August to make arrangements to receive a delegation to deliver the petition to City Hall.
1891 shoppers, traders and residents have backed a petition asking mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London to review parking facilities on Stonecot Hill’s Red Route.
The petition states that the lack of well-planned and managed parking on Stonecot Hill causes shoppers travelling by car to go elsewhere and threatens traders’ livelihoods. It also calls attention to the apparent contradiction between environmental and economic policies that aim to support local shopping and small business and the current situation on Stonecot Hill.
Edward Luckhurst, partner of Plumb Crazy, said, “The current parking arrangements have been in place for years and they haven’t worked. This petition is the end of a two-year campaign to have local people listened to. We want to see a fairer system that balances people’s need to stop and park to shop with the need to keep traffic moving through the area. The current situation benefits no-one.”
The petition will be presented to Ken Livingstone at City Hall next week.
Two cars were involved in a serious accident at the Woodstock crossroads during this morning’s rush hour.
A car approaching the junction from Sutton Common Road hit the side of another travelling across the lights onto Stonecot Hill and overturned it. Neither driver was seriously injured but a fire crew attended the scene and cut away the roof of one of the cars to minimise the risk in moving the driver.
Traffic was delayed while the wrecked vehicles were cleared.
The Stonecot Hill parking petition, which has been running for six weeks, has come to an end.
The petition is being organised by Ted and Ernie Luckhurst from Plumb Crazy and calls on London mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London to hold a formal public consultation of Stonecot Hill’s parking. Many shopkeepers and local residents feel that the current arrangements are inadequate and that local businesses are losing custom due to their enforcement.
The petition forms are currently being collected and counted. Anyone with a form should return them to Plumb Crazy.
