Ealing Parking
A number of Ealing residents have been issued with parking fines for not renewing their resident parking permits. Many people were caught out because they hadn’t received a reminder from the Council.
Although the Council stresses that permit reminders are sent as a courtesy and it is the responsibility of residents to renew their notices, there was a glitch following an upgrade to the system resulting in email renewal notices not going out. This has led to some people successfully challenging the Penalty Charge Notice.
To avoid problems, it’s well worth checking the status of your permit by logging in to your account on Ealing’s website.
New phone parking system
From 1 April 2019, both Resident Visitor permits and Cashless Parking (using a phone instead of Pay and Display) are being sold by PayByPhone rather than the existing provider – RingGo.
To park – Step 1
To park in an Ealing cashless parking bay or to pay for visitor parking, you will need to open an account with PayByPhone using the PayByPhone app (downloaded via the App Store, Google Play) or via the website: www.PayByPhone.com/ealing.
Once you’ve set up an account (telephone number and password), you then need to register a debit/credit card.
No details have been transferred from RingGo in the interests of personal data security although you may find that your phone details are already registered if you have previously used PayByPhone at some point in the past.
To book parking for a visitor in your CPZ – Step 2
Although the Council has not included this vital step in the announcement of the changes to Ealing residents, you will need to click on a couple of buttons to apply for a new permit before you can set up visitor parking with PayByPhone.
Click on “Permits” then following “Apply for a permit.” The approval of your permit application should be confirmed by PayByPhone pretty much immediately.
For your information, Zone B is now a different location number: 37403. However, you still choose Zone B from the drop-down list and the app then confirms that you have registered with 37403.
Questions or problems
If you have a problem with the PayByPhone system, email: uksupport@paybyphone.com or phone the Helpline: 0330 400 7275.
To contact the Council, email: parkingservices@ealing.gov.uk or phone: 020 8825 6677 (usually an Answerphone service but your message should be answered reasonably quickly).
Shared Parking Bays
Following efforts over many months, culminating in a meeting with council staff, last year we managed to persuade the Council to make some concessions to the plans for Shared Parking Bays in Bedford Park. The Council confirmed that it would introduce our suggested limit of a 4-hour maximum period in the key sections of roads closest to Turnham Green station.
There was an unprecedented level of objections from residents during the consultation complaining about increased traffic/congestion from commuters taking advantage of cheap all-day parking; increased pollution and worse air quality; safety risks especially around schools; inadequate analysis of the existing pressure on parking and lack of appropriate consultation and dialogue with residents. Despite this, the Council decided to go ahead with the scheme.
We made strong pleas to exclude certain roads, which are already over parked, and supported our case with photographs wherever possible. However, the council staff were unconvinced and until the discrepancy between their analysis and ours can be reconciled, and problems are reported, these roads will remain in the scheme.
Currently over parked roads
Please continue to provide any photographs of the specific parking/safety problems in individual roads if you feel the Council should reconsider their exemption from the scheme. Please take photographs of full bays during the daytime if you see problems and submit them to singhto@ealing.gov.uk (Tony Singh, Service Manager) and kestlaa@ealing.gov.uk (Anthony Kestla, Senior Engineer), copying us: information@bedfordpark.org.uk .
The Bedford Park roads affected are: Bayham, Bedford, Blandford, Cunnington, Eridge, Esmond, Evelyn, Fielding, Kingscote, Marlborough Crescent, Priory Road, Queen Anne’s Gardens, Ramillies, Rusthall, South Parade, Speldhurst, The Avenue, The Orchard, Vanbrugh and Wadhurst.
Withdrawal of paper vouchers – Ealing
We’ve continued to question Ealing Council’s withdrawal of paper visitor vouchers, which leaves PaybyPhone as the only option for payment. Our recent members’ survey showed that while residents are generally happy to have access to PaybyPhone as an alternative to the vouchers, the complete withdrawal of vouchers is impractical for many.
In the survey 93% of respondents said that paper vouchers should be provided in addition to paying by phone. The main reasons given for this were residents being away/at work when visitors arrive; the difficulty of using the system; PaybyPhone not working properly; no access to the internet/smart phone and problems such as visits by carers. We are now planning the next steps in our challenge. In the meantime, we have established that paper vouchers can still be obtained for anyone who can demonstrate that the PaybyPhone system is unsuitable for their needs because of age or disability:
“The Council continues to offer a paper-based solution to those who can demonstrate the paying by phone system is unable to meet their needs. Customers unable to use the PaybyPhone system may contact Parking Services directly by phone: 0208 825 6677, option 6; by email: ParkingServices@ealing.gov.uk or in writing to Ealing Council, Parking Services, PO Box 46264, Ealing, W5 2UN.”
There is no mention of this concession on the council website and local organisations such as Age UK Ealing were also unaware of it until alerted by us. Please feel free to pass this information on to any neighbours you think might find it helpful. We will keep you updated on developments and would welcome any comments from residents who may have concerns.
Hounslow Parking
Following complaints from residents about the introduction of cashless parking for using Pay and Display bays in Hounslow, the Society reviewed the Equalities Impact Report from the Council, which did not appear to be sufficiently detailed about the effects on the vulnerable and elderly. We also requested further details from the Council.
Hounslow new Resident Parking tariffs
The Society responded to the Council’s consultation on proposed charges for electric and diesel cars and household with more than one car suggesting that instead of the tariffs proposed, the Council should follow the TfL guidelines.
Bedford Corner and Bath Road area
The Society has been concerned for some time about road safety issues around the two mini roundabouts at the junctions of The Avenue, South Parade and Bath Road caused by parking between the two mini roundabouts and close to the central pedestrian islands in Bath Road. Hounslow Council implemented double yellow lines in those places, which we hope will be effective although residents are reporting continuing problems.
We are also aware that there are insufficient loading and unloading bays near to the businesses in Turnham Green Terrace, and insufficient spaces for taxis and have followed up options with the Council to try to improve the situation.
If you have any views on the above, please let us know by email: issues@bedfordpark.org.uk
For your information, Zone B is now a different location number: 37403. However, you still choose Zone B from the drop-down list and the app then confirms that you have registered with 37403. Questions or problems If you have a problem with the PayByPhone system, email: uksupport@paybyphone.com or phone the Helpline: 0330 400 7275. To contact the Council, email: parkingservices@ealing.gov.uk or phone: 020 8825 6677 (usually an Answerphone service but your message should be answered reasonably quickly).