Barnehurst residents hoping to drive away lazy commuters

3:46pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Sam Christie

Old Manor Way, Barnehurst, is lined with commuters taking advantage of free parking Old Manor Way, Barnehurst, is lined with commuters taking advantage of free parking

FED-UP residents in Barnehurst are calling for action to ban commuters from cluttering their cul-de-sac.

Homeowners in Old Manor Way say scores of motorists use their road to dump their cars and walk to nearby Barnehurst Rail Station.

Sarah Watkins, 35, believes commuters take advantage of the lack of parking restrictions and says the situation is getting worse.

The mother-of-two said: "They’re parking along the pavement on both sides.

"Most only live close, in Parkside and Holmsdale Grove, and can’t be bothered to get the bus.

"All it would take to stop them was to put yellow lines on one side."

Mrs Watkins says the road, next to Barnehurst Golf Course, is lined with double-parked cars blocking residents’ drives, being used as a long-term car park and making it difficult for emergency services to get through.

Her husband Jonathan, 38, added: "People have nearly been runover and the gate to my house has been knocked off.

"We’re the closest road to the station that has free parking - everywhere else has restrictions between 10-12pm, Monday to Friday."

Mr Watkins and his wife Sarah are concerned for the safety of their 14-month-old daughter Ellen and seven-year-old son Hayden.

He said: "It’s a very, very tight little road.

"My daughter gets pushed around there and drivers wouldn’t see here.

"It hasn’t happened yet but we need to do something."

He added: "I often see two or three cars coming down here at once, looking for a space, and taking an 18-point turn to get out of the road."

He says everyone living in the cul-de-sac is fully behind the push for parking restrictions but Bexley Council will not listen.

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said a controlled parking zone was installed around Barnehurst Station area in 2003 but there was not enough support from residents to include Old Manor Way.

She added: “We are currently reviewing all aspects of our parking service, including on street parking arrangements to ensure they continue to meet the needs of local residents and businesses as well as addressing statutory requirements.”

Comments(15)

jay2180 says...
8:24pm Fri 15 Mar 13

And i suppose the air ambulance would'nt be able to land either...!?!

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Oldchap says...
9:01pm Fri 15 Mar 13

I fully sympathise, living near a different station. I've had a car parked across my drive so I couldn't get out!

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banjo8 says...
12:52pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Why does it say Bexley Council comment to come? Has the council refused to say anything?
If there are no parking restrictions in the road and people stick to the regulations then they can't be blamed for parking their. Sounds like a case of nimbyism to me.

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handymanchris says...
9:04pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Excellent news, now i know where to park should i need the train!

Cheers NS!

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maxcadyuk says...
10:24pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Bravo Barnehurst! It's the same in Charlton. The road off mine is packed with cars on either side nowadays and driving is now a single way traffic, giving way to oncoming vehicles. Its madness.

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HowardMarriner says...
1:11pm Mon 18 Mar 13

As one of the three Barnehurst Ward Councillors, I have been in contact with Mrs Watkins on this subject since 2011 and have suggested that she organise a petition of affected residents in the vicinity as all additions & amendments to Controlled Parking Zones need to be resident-led and have the support of a majority of residents of nearby roads & properties which may be affected.

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the wall says...
1:44pm Mon 18 Mar 13

So lets get this right. People are parking MOT'ed, Taxed and insured cars in a public road.

Did Barnehurst Rail Station suddenly appear overnight?

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franksutton says...
4:58pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Whilst Sarah Watkins says the people live close, she might find most come from much further

Barnehurst is the first/last station in zone 6. The cost of travel from outside London zones is considerable (over £400 a year more from Dartford than from Barnehurst) so people drive & park so they can get cheaper travel

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Cllr. Simon Windle says...
8:30pm Mon 18 Mar 13

As a fellow Barnehurst Ward Councillor, some residents have been seeking our advice and support since 2009. Parking on the pavement is illegal in any case and so those doing so already risk being issued with a parking ticket, even without any further action from the Council. We have also suggested that residents register their property's drop-kerbs for enforcement against parking across them, which will ensure that those who choose to do so also risk being issued with a parking ticket.

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Oldchap says...
7:23am Tue 19 Mar 13

Surely parking across a dropped kerb is illegal so why do people have to register?

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reasonable75 says...
11:44am Tue 19 Mar 13

franksutton wrote:
Whilst Sarah Watkins says the people live close, she might find most come from much further Barnehurst is the first/last station in zone 6. The cost of travel from outside London zones is considerable (over £400 a year more from Dartford than from Barnehurst) so people drive & park so they can get cheaper travel
You find this at any zone 6 station - go to places like Chelsfield or St Mary Cray any weekday & the side roads are packed with parked cars, at weekends they're empty

Round Orpington there are restrictions as mentioned (no parking 10-11) so residents are OK. At Knockholt the council has started a pay & display!

I fully sympathise with the people in Old Manor Way

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PaulErith says...
4:40pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Why is it now deemed unacceptable to park near a station? This is something that has become more and more common over the past 15 or so years. If they hadn't already made most of the surrounding roads permit only, they wouldn't be crowding in this small cul-de-sac. People are just trying to make a living. They already pay their train fares without needing extra costs of parking in the station which isn't cheap.

By the way, this is coming from someone who lives near a station and has commuters parking there. Doesn't bother me at all. If they break the rules, e.g. parked across my drive, then I'd take the appropriate action, but so long as they're driving safely and parking legally, what's the issue?

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Marty1979 says...
5:06pm Tue 19 Mar 13

If the picture is accurate, the road has been reduced so cars would have problems getting through

Apart from emergency vehicles, can the dustbin cart get past?

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Virtual-Monster says...
7:20pm Tue 19 Mar 13

People seem so paranoid about parking. It's road nimbyism, what about a bit of sharing and tolerance instead?

I know a couple of friends who charge commuters to park on their private drives during the week and this seems to work for all concerned.

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banjo8 says...
10:12pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Virtual-Monster wrote:
People seem so paranoid about parking. It's road nimbyism, what about a bit of sharing and tolerance instead? I know a couple of friends who charge commuters to park on their private drives during the week and this seems to work for all concerned.
I agree, this is local people thinking they have rights over bits of public road. They should just chill out. The idea of commuters paying a reasonable charge to park on a private drive is excellent - cheap parking for the commuter, bit of extra cash for the home owner (and some extra security with a car on the drive).

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