Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Wood Green Parking Review
have just started looking at a copy of the above received thru door yesterday(Langham Rd) Many people will be familiar with phone baloney reviews which are only used to justify decisions already made but this one is so blatant it could be compared to the choice of Qatar for the World Cup. There is no selected answer that allows anyone to criticise existing arrangements. Anyone have any ideas of how to counteract this?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by doug on
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Hello Alan,
I'll give you an example of the problem that hopefully makes it a bit clearer.
I live in Wood Green Inner Zone, close to Wood Green tube and Council offices on Station Road, where demand for parking is high. At present permit holders from Wood Green Outer Zone can also park within the Inner Zone. The entire Wood Green CPZ (Inner and Outer) covers a vast area, and as such people will drive from a Wood Green Outer Zone and park in a Wood Green Inner Zone because it is more convenient, basically inter-zone commuting.
As a result, if I return home from work on a weekday lunch time, I am usually unable to park in my street, or neighbouring streets because of the spaces being taken by cars with Outer Zone permits. Realistically, if you have an Outer Zone permit, the distance covered to park in the Inner zone should be walkable, and if the council are to be believed in their aim to reduce car use then this needs to be addressed.
I am of the belief that when I pay my £100+ for my permit, it is a residents permit, and as such should give me a fair opportunity to park in my road, or at least a neighbouring road. At present, the fact that it allows me to park in a very large area surrounding Wood Green, and the North end of the Ladder, is a bonus, but not one that I would expect, or argue for.
The problem arose when the Wood Green CPZ was split into Inner and Outer Zones, but restrictions were/are not enforced. The Wood Green CPZ covers an area that is far too large, and the Council have recognized this with the very localised zones that they have introduced over recent years.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Thanks, Doug, that gives me a clearer idea.
But wouldn't it be sensible for the Council to explain this in such explicit terms to everyone who is a consultee? Again, that doesn't seem to have happened. Or am I wrong about this?
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Permalink Reply by Stuart on
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There were a couple of officers from the council yesterday at the Wood Green library showing plans and counselling opinion. When I asked them why the changes were being made, they were very clear that it was as a result (they said) of people from the outer zone parking in the inner zone to go to Wood Green shopping and denying the Inner Zone people somewhere to park (as per Doug's email above). However, when I asked them how that justified splitting the outer zone into three and what that had to do with resolving the problem of parking spaces in Wood Green inner zone, they had absolutely no answer.
For the record, as an Outer Zone holder, I regularly park at Park Ridings (right behind the Shopping Centre in the Inner Zone). There are always parking spaces through the day, and I've never had to park more than 50 metres down this road - which is considerably closer than I get to park in my own Outer Zone street sometimes (Effingham Road).
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I agree Bushy and would like to be able to put that point forward to them about splitting the outer zone. I also use Park Ridings to park for shopping at the weekend (and there are always spaces middle of day sat and sun) but agree that the residents should have priority over my shopping trip if space is an issue. It might result in less trade in the the Shopping City as you might as well go elsewhere but that's the way it goes. However really can't see that there could be an issue with people parking in different parts of the outer zone in significant numbers (apart from Liberty church time when the restrictions aren't in place anyway). That part must be about money.
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Quite often what passes for consultation in Haringey is like "Painting by numbers". (Kits which were popular when I was a kid. Though it seems you can still buy them.)
Sometimes this is well-intentioned- an attempt to inform and simplify and encourage wider participation.
Sometimes it's just cynical. Going through the motions to get apparent public endorsement of the outcome which council staff or "Leaders" have already decided.
I suggest, JennyC, as an individual and, I guess, with limited time for this, you have three choices.
(1) Ignore it disdainfully. In which case they'll probably assume you are okay with the choice they make for you.
(2) Politely follow the tramlines they've laid down and fill in the questionnaire as best you can.Or (3) "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way." (Attributed to Juan Ramón Jiménez.) Fill in only the boxes you want to. Otherwise ignore these tramlines except to write: "please see attached separate sheet" against the others. Also in the box next to Question 16.
Type your views on a separate sheet. Attach it to the questionnaire you send back.
To avoid it being ignored I also suggest emailing a copy to each of your three ward councillors. And to Cllr Stuart McNamara the "cabinet" councillor. Point out that preliminary testing a questionnaire with local people could avoid the errors you've spotted.
Tell them politely but firmly that you expect a helpful, constructive response to your points which you will be posting on this website.
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The cost of parking in Wood Green is ridiculously cheap; £1 for an hour, £2 up to 3 hours. If people are driving to Wood Green from the Ladder, I would imagine this cost isn't prohibitive.
I would much rather see the north of the Ladder included in the Green Lanes A CPZ. Occasionally on Saturday's when I go out or am on my way home and want to do some shopping on Green Lanes briefly, I'm prevented from doing so, unless I pay up to £3 for an hour.
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Permalink Reply by Julia Richards-Davies on
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I actually live on Park Ridings and although weekend daytime parking is just about manageable with outer permit holders parking here for the shops, it becomes impossible near Christmas. The worst time however is evenings, when people park here to get the tube into town or to go to the cinema or whatever, as residents' cars are also here as people are not at work or out shopping or visiting other areas at that time, and it is nigh on impossible to park on my road or even on surrounding roads any evening if I move my car after around 6pm. I for one feel very strongly that the zones should be separate.
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Julia, can I please suggest that, as well as sending in your own view, you could encourage friends and neighbours nearby to send in their views.
When I was a councillor, I always got some complaints from residents who - for various reasons - hadn't realised the impact new parking restrictions would have on them, their street, or their neighbourhood.
I've been reading and viewing online material (eg. videos) about experiments in deliberative democracy involving small groups of people. Here's an example from Oregon.
Though a full-blown "Citizens' Panel" may not be practical, perhaps your local residents' association could "host" one or more limited smallscale discussions.
The U.S. examples are focussed because states can add "Propositions" to the election ballots. Although people often say they find the material presented complex and "daunting". And the voting can be swayed by well funded lobbies.
But it seems they try at least to give people a balanced view of pros and cons. As we know, Haringey's consultations are often badly drafted; and can seem designed to get the result the ruling group wants. But having more informed electors who build a judgement with their neighbours, and then "own" the outcome, may have a stronger influence.
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If anyone wants the direct link to the video it's here on Vimeo - 4 minutes 30 seconds. (Free - no paywall or sign-up.)
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