Double Fault To Southfields Residents

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Residents to get new 'tennis' parking permits

People living in Southfields who were given special parking permits for their friends and relatives during the Wimbledon tennis championships are to be given a fresh set of replacements after it emerged that some unscrupulous residents have tried to cash in by selling them to tennis fans.

The council recently provided households living near the All England Club with special yellow temporary parking permits, free of charge, that can be used by friends, relatives, carers and other visitors while the tournament is on.
 

This is because pay and display parking facilities throughout the area are suspended each year until the tennis is concluded, to prevent tennis fans from occupying local residents' parking spaces. 

There were concerns that some of these residents may have made many copies of the genuine permits, sparking fears that residential roads would be swamped by an influx of parked cars owned by tennis fans.

Although each household was provided with two free  permits, one seller was offering a total of 17 for sale. Another resident was demanding £60 for his pair.

However, the council has taken the decision to issue a new set of permits after it emerged that some residents had attempted to cash in on the scheme by selling the existing ones on various internet sites.

As a result a new set of permits will be hand-delivered to households this weekend, along with a letter giving residents a full explanation for the change. Anyone who attempts to sell the new permits to third parties could face legal action.  

The yellow coloured permits that were previously delivered are now null and void and should be discarded. Any vehicle found in the area using a yellow coloured permit is likely to receive a parking ticket and could be towed away.

June 20, 2008