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News and Comment May 2011

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10 May - The law says the aim is “no penalty charges”

Today I return to the subject of covert CCTV surveillance of bus stops. Don’t all groan; this is a new story. Firstly let’s look at what the legislation says about Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). “Enforcement authorities should run their CPE operations (both on and off-street) efficiently, effectively and economically. The purpose of penalty charges is to dissuade motorists from breaking parking restrictions. The objective of CPE should be for 100 per cent compliance, with no penalty charges.” Does Bexley council follow that? Of course not, if they did they would not hide their camera cars up side streets and set the police on members of the public who help with the council’s legal obligation of “100% compliance” by warning shoppers with a home made notice. Let’s not beat around the bush; if Bexley council’s priority was to operate within the law they wouldn’t hide CCTV cars in side streets or attempt to have warning notices taken away. So what’s the latest example of Bexley council’s CPE failures?

Shop and bus stop Gate. Cross over and bus stop Car liable to get a ticketWhere Erith Road meets Fraser Road in Erith there are several small shops with a bus stop in front of them (one bus every 12 minutes on route 99) and a road opposite which is on rising ground. Bexley’s gestapo wagon parks at that higher level and trains its camera on the bus stop. (Photo 1). In doing so it peers straight into the bedrooms of the flats above the shops. Why does it park out of sight? To illegally maximise revenue.

An additional problem (Photo 2) is that the bus stop has been extended over a pavement crossover provided for shop deliveries and access to the flats above. Anyone stopping in front of the gates to open them is ticketed because the back end of all but the smallest vehicles hangs a foot over the pavement for a few seconds. The owner of the car in Photo 3 received a fine for doing just that. He appealed but Bexley council wouldn’t budge. One of the occupants of the flats is disabled, she stands no chance against Bexley’s gestapo as she takes far too long to open the gates.


Notomob notice Newspaper letterThe Notomob have been active in the area and the Nisa shop owner has one of their notices displayed in his window. He is therefore ‘guilty’ of the same ‘offence’ as Mr. Peaple who did his best to ensure compliance with CPE legislation while Bexley council preferred flouting it.

The effect of Bexley council’s activities is devastating on local businesses. As one shop owner in Fraser Road said to me, “customers just carry on by and go to the big supermarkets or out of town shopping centres”. I imagine Mr. Newland whose letter appears in the current issue of The Greenwich Mercury is one of those drivers.

This story was brought to Bonker’s attention by the Notomob team and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

 

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