The moment we have all been waiting for – the first session of the Parking Enforcement scrutiny which I chair at the London Assembly.
Today’s session saw witnesses from the British Parking Association, the Chief Exec of NCP, the RAC Foundation (not to be confused with the RAC) and The Association of International Express Couriers.
It was a really interesting session with the witnesses across the board agreeing on two important points. First, that the financial imperative of the enforcement contracts meant a certain level of financial outcome had to be delivered. Second, the signs and rules across London were confusing for many people. Can there be simplification and harmonisation whilst still respecting the need for different policies to suit different areas?
Of course, my now legendary ‘unfair’ parking ticket came up. I had managed to get through half the meeting before it raised its ugly head. Thanks to the Evening Standard it would appear the whole of London knows that on Bank Holiday Monday I got a ticket.
Having been seduced into Central London with no congestion charge and no parking charges, I drove into the West End on New Year Bank Holiday Monday. I parked on the first parking bay in Luxborough Street. There was a parking sign immediately by the space where I parked with no indication of any restriction other than the normal sign indicating the direction to the pay machine, hours and dates etc. On my return about 10 minutes later – there were two wardens ticketing the cars. They confirmed it was Bank Holiday and there were no charges – but told me that the bay was suspended.
I pointed out that there was no sign on the parking instructions by the space indicating any suspension. They said the notice was by the pay machine, but of course, being Bank Holiday I had not gone to get a parking pay and display ticket from the machine which was about 60 or so metres away. They said they did not have the power to cancel the ticket and suggested I talk to a supervisor.
When the supervisor came – he looked at the situation and agreed it was a ‘travesty’. The supervisor suggested that I should write to Westminster and that he would make notes to the effect that he agreed that I should not have to pay this charge because of the circumstances.
As I said to those in the room – I bet Westminster were looking frantically through their correspondence to the parking department to find said letter!
That evening, it was the Lord Mayor’s Dinner for London Government. Mayor Ken and the 25 Assembly members are the honoured guests at this event at the Mansion House. The Corporation of London sure know how to put on a do. I love this event – pomp, circumstance, men in uniforms, pikes – all things I eschew as a republican. But the fun of seeing such another world is irresistible and so well done!
I find myself going in to the welcoming line behind Ken Livingstone who is first in line and behind me Simon Fletcher – his Chief of Staff. The Lord Mayor’s wife says ‘oh you’re the woman I wanted to see – the one with the parking ticket’. Then Ken peels off to the left (naturally) and I and Simon follow to sit for dinner.
As I am only about a metre from Ken I suggest to him that he use his after-dinner speech to raise the issue of Hampstead bathing ponds.
Health and Safety are saying that the Corporation need to have lifeguards and therefore will charge swimmers for the privilege. Outrageous in my view. People have been swimming there for decades – and a notice saying you go in at your own risk would suffice in my view. It’s not a swimming pool. Over-zealous, intrusive and nannying.
Anyway – Ken smiled and his rejoinder to me was that he would raise it if I would agree to go skinny-dipping! In the event – he didn’t raise it in his speech and North London will be spared a dreadful sight. But you know – anything to save the ponds…
After dinner – when we were taking a ‘stirrup cup’ – I had the opportunity to lobby Michael Snyder from the Corporation – but he proved deaf to my pleas. A compromise position was about to be reached where the takings are ploughed back into maintenance. I still think it’s over the top and unnecessary.
