Forum Topic

Hounslow Council Issuing Park Anywhere Permits for Estate Agents

Although this site has highlighted the big increase in parking charges which have been dressed up as an environmental measure but really are about more revenue, an equally important change appears to have been overlooked.Hounslow Council have now started selling permits which allow you to park anywhere in the borough including on street parking bays. This could not be a clearer confirmation of how the need for more cash will trump the need to save the planet on every occasion.For £1,100 per annum for a low emission car e.g. a hybrid or £1,500 for anything else you can now buy a permit to park anywhere you like. This isn't expensive if you would otherwise be using public transport to get to work on a daily basis so will lead to a significant shift from public transport to car use.They will almost certainly be used by every single estate agent in the area who will now be able to ferry potential buyers to viewings without worrying about getting fines and will be able to occupy scarce bays in the town centre putting an even greater squeeze on local retailers.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2072d30 Comments

Not that different from Ealing's releasing of residents only bays to provide commuter parking in parts of  Chiswick. Confused or what?A bit like the congestion charge - no problem if you can afford it, and it gets rid of a lot of those nasty cars driven by the poor people.

Bruce Hammal ● 2072d

And for an extra £2000 pounds you can park in a cycle lane causing the minimum of fuss

James Dow ● 2072d

They look significantly underpriced given that it now costs well over £6 for a short spell of parking in central Chiswick. That's without taking into account the pfaffing about every time you need to park. They look set to be hugely popular. It's a good job Hounslow Council haven't taken any measures recently to reduce local road capacity otherwise there might have been problems coping with the extra traffic.

Francis Rowe ● 2072d

He he he! What a giggle.Nothing like waving your prejudice on a big brave click bait headline is there?Bravo! Any other inane prejudices you want reveal to the world while you're centre stage?

Adrian Irving ● 2072d

Isn't this usual for businesses in CPZs?

Philippa Bond ● 2072d

I don't have a particularly strong opinion either way on estate agents in general and I know some in the local area are excellent professionals.They would not be primarily to blame for the problems that seem certain to result from this money grabbing measure from the council. Rather than having a go at me personally for expressing a view, perhaps if you disagree with me it would be better if you picked me up on anything I have said that you believe to be factually inaccurate?They can provide a better service for their clients if they can readily park their cars near their offices so they would be remiss if there were not to buy these permits. The problem is that so many of these offices are near important retail areas in Chiswick which have already seen parking provision squeezed. It will not take many cars per agents' office to mean that available spaces are even harder to come by. Be prepared for lines of Foxton's minis permanently in occupation of the car park in front of the police station for instance.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2072d

"Isn't this usual for businesses in CPZs?"Yes you can purchase a permit in the name of a local business to park in a particular CPZ but you have not been able in the past to buy a permit that allows you to park where ever you like when ever you want.One reason why parking in specific CPZs has been restricted to residents who live in those zones was to prevent commuters hogging the parking spaces around transport hubs and destination shopping areas. These restrictions encourage residents to make short journeys on foot or by public transport and increase the chances of local residents being able to park close to their own homes.In Chiswick several schools face a particular parking problem for teachers. They do not have enough space on site for all teachers to park so some must park on the street but all the streets close to schools are now covered by CPZs. Hounslow says that the schools can buy business permits for staff but these cost considerably more than the permits for residents.Hounslow refuses (unlike many other boroughs) to make any concession.Before anyone tells me that teachers do not need to drive to work can I point out that many take work home with them such as marking and carrying such materials on a bus or train is problematic.   

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2072d

This policy completely cuts across the intended business parking levy that Hounslow were going to introduce to fund new railway infrastructure in the borough. Unless some unrevealed restrictions are operating it now makes no sense for large employers to provide car parks, they can now at much less cost pay for business permits for staff.It looks like something that was thought up in a hurry to cover a hole in the accounts, possibly the slaying of the Turnham Green Terrace golden goose and the possibility that other LTN PCN cameras won't be contributing after June.

Paul Corcoran ● 2072d

I remember a well-loved teacher trundling his wheeled suitcase of books down Chiswick High Road.

Philippa Bond ● 2072d

Hummmm!

Adrian Irving ● 2072d

That should have landed under JP

Adrian Irving ● 2072d

and mine should have landed under Sam Hearn's.

Philippa Bond ● 2072d

It isn't clear what you mean. Are you disputing the accuracy of what I am saying? If so, perhaps you would explain why?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2072d

Ealing have been offering park-anywhere Business and Premium permits for some time.

Peter Evans ● 2072d

Solves the parking problem for the owners of all the new flats being built without parking provision.

Claire Moran ● 2072d

To Sam's point about teachers, about a year ago there was a thread on here about teachers having to pay for parking permits and/or the cost of same increasing for them. I can't remember the specifics. The LTN and cycle lobby said simply teachers could cycle. Period. No clue where they come from or what their workday entails to provide education for their children but just that they should cycle. I advocated then as now for them to get free parking given their pay isn't what it ought to be plus they spend their own money to enrich the lives of the these advocates' children not to mention all children. But that irony always goes missing so it deserves mentioning. I also think carers should get city-wide free parking to facilitate their rounds taking care of us. But in the  meantime we wait for the day when Michael, Paul, Ed et al have a medical emergency that is jeopardized by their own advocacy to help push the pendulum toward the middle where it belongs.

David Lesniak ● 2072d

Not the accuracy JP, the stupidity of your barbed post.If you had stopped to think for one moment you would have (hopefully) realised it makes no difference what so ever how an agent, going about their business, pays for parking.The car they use is still going to take up a parking space.You know full well the scheme is open to many other types of businesses so maybe you would now like to explain why you have highlighted estate agents in your click bait and misleading heading?Actually, I have heard all I need to from you so please don't bother.

Adrian Irving ● 2072d

Good point Claire .

Maggie Dodge ● 2072d

Perhaps JP did play up the estate agent angle a bit. This policy could attract hundreds of extra cars to the area and agents will be a small proportion of that. This is no way amounts to stupidity on his part however.His specific point about agents is very clear. They will disproportionately take up scarce spare space in the centre of town making it even more difficult to park and encouraging shoppers to drive to other centres.I really don't buy your claim that the permits would have no impact on parking habits. Staff who previously used public transport will now drive, staff who live locally can and walk or cycle to work can now bring their car and companies with vehicle fleets like Foxtons will be able to store their cars on local roads in a place handy for them to be used for viewings and valuations.

Francis Rowe ● 2072d

So potentially anyone in Hounslow with deep enough pockets can resume parking all day in roads near tube or rail stations. Doesn't that rather defeat the purpose of residents' parking? I recall those days with horror.

Bruce Hammal ● 2071d

Wonder if they will start selling ANPR permits next? Could be a nice little LBH earner once PCN revenues eventually drop from the cameras.

Russell Pearson ● 2071d

Isn't it likely that for the ANPR cameras which restrict access to people with certain resident permits, these super permits will make you exempt from fines e.g. from the Hartington Road camera?

Francis Rowe ● 2071d

You would like to think not as qualification for the Hartington Road white list requires separate registration over and above living inside the two relevant CPZs. On the other hand, who knows.....

Bruce Hammal ● 2071d

It's at best ironic that while supposedly trying to discourage people from using cars, both Hounslow and Ealing seem to have no problem in monetising the issue by encouraging parking - at the  right price of course. Illogical captain.

Bruce Hammal ● 2071d

A bit like promoting a stadium that will be reached only by public transport and bike only to realize, oh shit, we need parking, so let's park on residential streets, on school lots and in the nearby office park.

David Lesniak ● 2071d

£1500 works out at a fiver a day for parking on 300 days usage. Cheaper than a meter. Wonder what they’d knock out an ANPR one for - £5k, £16.66 per day?

Russell Pearson ● 2071d

It's utterly contradictory and appalling and just demonstrates that they care not at all about pollution (especially as they LOVE Heathrow)but just about money and keeping their LCC cronies happy.  Wonder if Ealing is doing the same?  Their decision to close the recycling centre in Bollo Lane would suggest so. Will post a couple of petitions to sign on this later (although they may be there already, will check).

Claire Moran ● 2071d

The Hounslow Councillors who took this decision are complete and utter hypocrites; the spiel they come out with that their anti-car policies are imposed to lower pollution is sanctimonious twaddle. But of course we know this anyway.

Mandy Waters ● 2071d

Surely this new policy should rule out any question that Hounslow Council are in anyway anti-car? It is hard to imagine a policy that could be introduced that would increase the practicality of driving to work in the borough more effectively. Their guiding principle seems to be how much money they can raise.The reluctance they have shown to answer any questions about this does suggest the implementation will be aimed at maximising revenue as much as possible i.e. the controls will be quite lax. One key question is whether  time limits would apply in Pay and Display bays. If not there is a danger that spaces in the centre of town would be blocked out all day further undermining the efforts of local retailers to get back on their feet.

Francis Rowe ● 2068d

Quite so Francis.Maybe the low price is to attract many to purchase with a price hike planned in the not too distant future.Parkers, will moan but having got used to the convenience  pay up anyway.

Adrian Irving ● 2068d