Greenwich council accused of ‘deliberately ignoring’ objections to new parking charges

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A council has been accused of “deliberately ignoring” residents’ concerns on “ridiculous” new parking restrictions in their area.

Greenwich council agreed in December to consider bringing in parking charges in Rochester Way and Welling Way in Eltham.

Rates ranged between 50p and £1 to park for an hour, with a maximum daily charge of £4.

Conservative councillor Matt Hartley said at a scrutiny meeting for Greenwich council on Monday that he was concerned by only 16 responses being included in the council officers’ report on the scheme, when 139 responses from residents had been received in total.

The councillor said he felt the objections of a large number of residents from Eltham Park, who were worried the restrictions will drive traffic to neighbouring roads. had also been disregarded.

Cllr Hartley said at the meeting: “This has created a terrible impression. This comes across as the council deliberately ignoring Eltham Park’s strong objections to these restrictions, which are non-residential roads.

“And I think the council has a lot of work to do to convince anyone in Eltham Park that this was in any way a genuine consultation.”

Paul Nevard, senior parking projects manager for Greenwich council, said a notice for residents to voice their concerns on the scheme was advertised for four weeks in August 2022, as well as a notice being put in the local press.

Mr Nevard said: “Fundamentally, every comment for and against the scheme is always given to the decision maker to view and look at.

“The report is very much a summary of what we feel are significant material objections that we feel need to be responded to.”

Council documents said the reasoning behind the new parking charges was to cut car use and encourage residents to walk and use public transport to get to Falconwood railway station.

The scheme comes alongside Greenwich council’s wider plan to become carbon neutral by 2030.

At the end of the meeting, the call-in committee agreed to move ahead with plans to add parking charges to Rochester Way and Welling Way, in a 2-1 vote.

The suggestion will be passed on to the Greater London Authority for consideration.

Pictured top: Rochester Way, which may have parking charges added to it in future (Picture: Google Earth)