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Letter 4 Reply
26 October 2001
Dear Mr Tarrant
PLANTATION ROAD - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PAVEMENT PARKING BAYS
I refer to your letter dated 23 September and acknowledge on 4 October 2001 requesting additional pavement parking bays be installed in Plantation Road.
I do understand your views regarding parking difficulties in Plantation Road. However, the Council's parking policies have been based on a key principle for many years; the Council has no duty to provide parking for residents and it is for car owners to take responsibility for parking safely and legally, preferably off the highway.
If the Council was to install bays close to the junction it is stating that this is a safe place to park, in many circumstances it may not be. As I explained in my last letter, the Highway Code recommends that vehicles do not park within ten metres of a junction and if motorists chose to ignore this the Metropolitan Police may issue parking tickets. Because of street furniture and utility covers in the pavement, there would only be enough room to install one bay on the east side of Plantation Road and extend the bay on the west side to accommodate one more vehicle. I note your comments about a lack of parking at the Council's Howbury Centre. There is additional parking at the rear of the building, however, some users of the Centre may choose not to use it and again the Council has limited powers to make them.
I appreciate that you feel it is the Council's responsibility to provide for the needs of society, however, society is not just made up of motorists wishing to park their cars. The Council has to consider other road users including pedestrians and wheelchair users.
The Council has provided as many pavement parking bays in Plantation Road that comply with its criteria and are in a safe position. We will not be installing any more bays in Plantation Road and there are no plans to alter the road/pavement layout to provide more parking.
I must, therefore, confirm that no further pavement parking bays will be provided in Plantation Road. I trust this explains the Council's position on pavement parking.
Yours sincerely
LINDA JACKSON
Assistant Engineer