13 June (Part 2) - Bexley council. Penalizing motorists at every opportunity
There
has been an unusually large number of parking related enquiries in recent days, nothing like the silly case in Lewisham where
a jobsworth ticketed a hearse
which had stopped outside a church to allow the pall bearers to remove the coffin.
Such things do happen in Bexley but not this week as far as I know. Three reports have
involved Residents Parking Permits and two are nearly identical. The complaint is
that Bexley does not remind residents when their permit is about to expire, not even an
email to those who made the purchase on line.
Nick Dowling suffered that but as he is at work by the time the restricted hours
commence and is on his way home at the time they end, he escaped a fine (†). A Crayford
resident was not so lucky. A passer-by sent me the associated
photograph taken yesterday. Details have been obliterated but the receipt attached to the windscreen
reveals that Bexley council took payment for a three month permit commencing 1st
June on the 10th and that the permit would be “sent to you shortly”. Not shortly enough
to prevent a fine a day until the permit turns up.
A resident of Erith was ticketed by Civil Enforcement Officer BBL559 because he
stopped on his own crossover point to open the gate to his drive. The CEO
demanded proof that the driver was entitled to stop in front of his own drive -
i.e. that the car and house was his and while the homeowner went indoors to find
some documents BBL559 left the scene and the driver with a trip to PATAS (Parking Adjudicator).
Finally
a visitor to Bexleyheath drove into town and noted that it was a ‘Controlled Parking
Zone’ from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Great, it was past 6:30 so OK to stop for a
take-away.
The motorist picked her way very carefully through the temporary traffic lights of Arnsberg
Way and around the mess that is the Graham Road junction, all the while “making eye contact
with pedestrians” and the hazardous features which “encourage people to wander across the street”
- both being official quotes from Bexley council - and duly parked in a loading bay outside Wimpy
convinced that all was well because it was nearly 7 p.m. An expensive mistake.
The central area, whilst ringed by the the 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. zone, is
further restricted until 7 p.m. I walked the motorist’s route yesterday and there is
nothing to say the times are different in Broadway apart from a few small signs. If you had previously spotted the large 5:30 p.m. sign on the way in and have
not passed another large sign bearing any different time, why would anyone go
looking for more parking traps?
The lady’s email ends “I won’t be spending money in Bexleyheath again, and Wimpy has lost a
customer”. I have quite a lot of those now. Meanwhile Bexley council is in denial, I've seen
their latest excuse sheet.
† Nick wonders what sort of ‘business’ makes no
attempt to get repeat orders. Would Bexley council be so lax with
Council Tax reminders he asks. I think Nick overlooks one important point.
Non-payment of Council Tax may
result in a court penalty which goes to central government. Non renewal of
Parking Permits has the potential to offset the punitive costs of Bexley’s
inflated salaries. I know of one resident who forgot to renew and got three
tickets before receiving his permit. Uniquely in ‘business’, bad customer service
is a nice little earner for councils.