Massive Rise in Chiswick High Road PCNs
Council's temporary measures lead to parking fine bonanza
Hounslow Council have issued 60% more parking fines on Chiswick High Road so far this year according data obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
Local resident Philip Sheldrake decided to request the information after being caught out twice on the High Road since the beginning of the year. He claims the temporary measures introduced by the Council which they said were designed to combat the extra traffic caused by the closure of Hammersmith Flyover were poorly communicated and that the warning signs provided were inadequate. Many other residents have complained about being caught unawares by the changes.
Mr. Sheldrake says, "To me, inadequate simply means that too many people don't know about the changes, and such proof will be evident in the data. As such, I submitted a freedom of information request to Hounslow Council."
So far this year (the data goes up to May 22nd) the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are up by 61% compared to the same period in 2011 according to Mr Sheldrake's calculations.
Mr. Sheldrake added, "I believe this places a moral obligation on the Borough of Hounslow to consider revoking PCNs related to recent changes in parking restrictions. Whether it places a legal obligation on them is beyond my domain of expertise."
Following the closure of Hammersmith Flyover at the end of last year, Hounslow Council introduced a range of measures to restrict parking and bus lane use on Chiswick High Road. Chiswick was the only area of London subject to widespread extra restrictions. The result appears to have been a surge in PCNs issued.
The following temporary changes to bus lanes and waiting restrictions were introduced along the full length of Chiswick High Road between Chiswick Roundabout and Goldhawk Road. They were later amended when the Flyover was partially reopened and scrapped entirely when the Flyover fully reopened in May.
• Extension of current Monday-Saturday 7am-7pm waiting restrictions (outside of the bus lanes) to Monday-Sunday 7am-8pm. Inter-peak and evening loading (from 8pm) will not be prohibited, except in the bus lanes.
• Conversion of the current 7am-7pm (and other part-time) bus lanes to 24 hour 7 day operation
• Extension of current waiting and loading restrictions in the bus lanes to Monday-Sunday 24 hour 7 day operation.
June 14, 2012
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