2 September (Part 1) - Abbey Wood parking gets even more difficult
A
month ago I heard the traders near Abbey Wood Station complaining about the
downturn in trade following the removal of about 16 parking spaces due to Crossrail
construction. Customers, it was said, were complaining of nowhere to park and
sometimes going away. One of the traders asked me about organising a petition
and I told him that Bexley council
generally throws away residents’ petitions
and his best bet was to get a Lesnes Abbey councillor on side and I passed on their contact details to him.
On 12th August I emailed councillor Danny Hackett
to let him know what I had done and why but
without specifically seeking his assistance. His reply said he was keeping his
eye on the situation and would speak to the shopkeepers. This he did
as you can see from his Tweet.
It is difficult to see how the situation could be improved given the need to
provide access for large vehicles and lay railway track so close to Gayton Road.
The only room for improvement I can see is that the proportion of Disabled Bays was always
rather high and now the proportion has been approximately doubled. The situation
cannot be allowed to get any worse but it would appear that it just has.
On the Thamesmead side of the railway 21 parking spaces were taken away
yesterday. The spaces along Harrow Manorway were mainly used by all day
commuters but their loss will inevitably have knock on effects.
The
signs were erected yesterday morning and as the spaces were fully occupied no yellow lines were painted. The bus stop had been
taken out of use too.
The curious thing is that the Traffic Order was issued by Greenwich council. According to my
A-Z the borough border goes along the middle of Harrow Manorway and Lensbury Way is definitely
in Bexley, so why is Greenwich council legislating over Lensbury Way? See Photo 4, paragraph 1ii.
Meanwhile nearer the railway station Bexley council has banned parking just where it
could be easily and safely provided.