The Best Guide for the BR5 Area

July

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

Name & address supplied

I have lived in Petts Wood for years, but as a new mum I have appreciated only recently just how hard it is to get around with a buggy / wheelchair locally. In addition to the uneven pavements, there is the obvious difficulty of crossing the railway, where I have to rely on the footbridge at the end of Petts Wood Road.

At the footbridge end of Bluston Parade, where the pavement slopes down to the road to allow for wheelchair access, there is a "KEEP CLEAR" painted on the road. Despite the sign, there regularly seems to be cars parked on this spot. One day I was delighted to see a traffic warden walking by as I was bouncing off the pavement as someone was parked in the keep clear area and I asked if he could give that car a ticket. I was surprised to learn that he could not give a ticket as it is not an offence to park on a "KEEP CLEAR" in Bromley and the yellow line does not extend into that keep clear area.

This seems completely ridiculous when so many people must rely on this slope as their main thoroughfare from Petts Wood East to West. Not just prams, but wheelchairs and the elderly with shopping trolleys in tow. There seems to be some regular offenders who think that this is their special space reserved for them when Petts Wood is busy. It makes me so angry every time I see anyone parked there! Is there nothing we can do to get this changed?

On the subject of parking, is it still an offence to park within 10 metres of a junction? A great big 4x4 / people carrier frequently parks dangerously close to the corner of Crossway and Wood Ride - this oversize vehicle completely obliterates the view of oncoming traffic down Crossway and makes pulling out of Wood Ride quite dangerous. Should the 10 metre zone from a junction be marked with a yellow line?

We forwarded this letter to our Police and Traffic & Parking representative, Derek Marrable, and here is his reply...  Ed.

Sadly, this is a common problem country wide. Unfortunately, Parking Wardens are unable to issue tickets for offences outside their terms of reference. When I tell you that it is not an offence to obstruct you from entering your own driveway, (although it is to prevent you leaving it!) you will understand the problems faced by those whose job it is to look after our interests.

The Warden was right about it not being an offence to park on a 'Keep Clear' area - although it could well amount to 'Unnecessary Obstruction'. Our Safer Neighbourhood Team should be able to assist you in future when this type of nuisance occurs. Their numbers are printed in the Gazette regularly.

(Why doesn't the Council paint double yellow lines across the Keep Clear area? Or is that too obvious a solution! Ed.)

With respect to parking near junctions, the Highway Code is clear that, under Rule 243, vehicles must not park within 10 metres of a junction other than in a marked parking place. There is no specific offence for that transgression. It could, of course, be deemed 'A Dangerous Position', which would normally only be acted upon by the Police after an accident was caused due to a vehicle being parked there. Again it is rare that any action would be taken.

Concerning lack of yellow lines, there is a comprehensive review of parking in Petts Wood taking place and by now you should have received a questionnaire from the Council. That will give you the best chance of letting your views be known on all aspects of parking in and around the village, and I would strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to do so.

WILLETT RECREATION GROUND TENNIS COURTS

Mary Bower, Princes Avenue

The tennis courts at Willett Recreation Ground have been free to be used for the last couple of years, with little vandalism. Now, coming up to Wimbledon, Bromley Council with the LTA'S approval and a private tennis club, Park Langley, want to lock up the courts all day.

Electronic gates will be installed at great expense, access to the courts being gained only by use of an electronic key. Cost will be £12 per household for residents wishing to use the tennis courts. Do we need this fortress mentality? What is the point of this? What is in this for our young people who gather in the Park? Why can't Bromley Council let them use the tennis courts free of charge?

It has been said time and time again that there is nothing for our young people to do in Petts Wood now there is even less.

• Shame on Bromley Council for ignoring our young people
• Shame on the LTA for agreeing to this scheme
• Shame on our society for being so beastly to our young people

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Gillian Bell, Wood Ride

I was saddened today to learn that the greengrocer in Petts Wood East is to close at the end of July as their landlord has doubled their rent. This shop has been a greengrocer for 40 years and the current people have been there for 15 years and do not want to leave.

I am concerned as to what type of business will be allowed to take the space. Their rental increase has been compounded by the arrival of Costa Coffee, who are paying a high rent in their location which makes the greengrocer's landlord think that he can achieve this rent for his shop. By allowing national companies (who can afford such rents) such as Costa into Petts Wood, we are endangering the local shops and personality of Petts Wood.

I cannot believe that permission has been given for yet another betting shop to open next to the Baby Care shop. Surely there is not the need or desire from most local residents for a third betting shop in such a small shopping area.

I would love to join the Residents' Association or any other forum which has some say over the applicants for use of the shops so that we can try to save our local shopping community. Is there anything we can do to make our concerns be heard?

Here is a joint response form the PWDRA and the Petts Wood Business Association to the points raised in Gill's letter... Ed.

It is market forces that are shaping our local shops, and if local people prefer to use the big supermarkets, DIY stores, etc rather than the small independent traders then those traders will struggle to stay in business. Competition on price, poor parking facilities and people's laziness in walking to the local shops are to blame - not Costa Coffee, which is actually good for Petts Wood.

Unfortunately for our small businesses, in a free market private landlords are able to charge whatever rent they believe they can get for their property, and there is little that we, the Council or other bodies can do. Large retail chains can afford higher rents, and this has the effect of driving up rents for all Petts Wood businesses.

The Residents' and Business Associations are working closely with each other and with our local Councillors and Lorraine McQuillan - Bromley's Town Centre Manager for Petts Wood - to see what can be done to promote and improve the diversity of our local shops. We will soon conduct a survey to assess why local people are not using the shops more.

In relation to the betting shop, the proper planning process was followed. The situation was not helped by the fact that using the premises as a betting shop did not constitute a ‘change of use' and there was insufficient evidence of any harm to the local community, despite the PWDRA's objections.

The Residents' and Business Associations have objected to many recent planning and licensing applications, and we will continue to do so when we believe they are not in the best interests of Petts Wood residents.

PETTS WOOD PARKING

Peter Waymark, Princes Avenue

A simple answer to commuters who use the residential roads of Petts Wood for free parking would be to ban on-street parking for a couple of hours (noon to 2pm) in the middle of the day. This has been done in other parts of the Borough for some years, so why not Petts Wood? Apart from being unsightly, long rows of cars in roads such as Willett Way and St Johns Road cut down visibility and are therefore a hazard for other drivers. 

PARKING PROPOSALS

Richard Fuggle, Manor Way

Once again I see the subject of parking raising its head in Petts Wood.

May I ask ALL residents who fill in the form from the council to think long and hard about their answers before responding and not just to look at that space (that is not their right) outside their house.

I see some residents close to schools are protesting at parking during school time. Yes, it is a nuisance and many of the mothers could walk the kids to school. Please do not mention time as many spend an hour gossiping with other mothers after dropping the kids off and arrive half an hour or more prior to home time. So walk - it will take the same time. However, these residents only have the problem morning and afternoon during term time. Other residents suffer daily from commuters who are now arriving outside my house from 6.30am. Please do not tell me they are a benefit to Petts Wood, they are not. They do not shop here nor do they stay here, they are only a pest.

This brings me to the form and our problems. You must realise that there are many possible solutions; one could be yellow lines. This sounds good, but you will also be penalised as you cannot park there nor can your visitors. Also if you visit your friend around the corner you cannot park outside their house either. Another solution is parking permits, but why on earth do you want to volunteer to pay yet another tax to the council? No doubt they will be wringing their hands with gusto at the prospect of people paying them more money to squander.

If you look at the extreme solution it will be yellow lines everywhere, thus stopping you parking anywhere without paying some form of tax (for that is what it is). It may be reasonable today, but as councils become desperate to pay their final salary pensions then the money will come from you. If yellow lines are put in then the problem will not go away, it will just move further out and reduce your space as well.

Petts Wood prides itself on its green policy and gardens. Come yellow lines and restrictions then we shall see more gardens concreted over and less green areas. Is that what we want? I do think something has to be done about the parking; but think about the impact on the area and how it will affect you away from your home if you are visiting or shopping elsewhere.

What do you think?

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