Just after 6pm tonight, Croydon Council sent out a notice to all those who had lodged complaints and petitions over the controversial proposals for widespread changes to controlled parking zones.

Signed by Councillor Phil “Two Permits” Thomas, the statement amounts to an massive climb down by the council, which clearly had got its proposals horribly wrong.

Congratulations are due to the CRAPP team and supporters, strongly backed by Inside Croydon, who worked hard to marshal opposition to the proposals for the second time in a decade, with more than 2,000 opponents signing petitions against the ill-considered plans.

As had been reported on Friday by the Croydon Sadvertiser – who did leak the report to the newspaper, eh, Phil? – the extension of the new parking restrictions to 8am to midnight, seven days a week, will be limited to some streets around Mayday Hospital.

Campaigner Peter Morgan describes the restrictions near the hospital as a “cruel and callous” attack on “the sick and dying”.

Hospital “visits will become an expensive rarity”, Morgan has written tonight. “Until a few months ago, there were no CPZ controls at all, but now the council wants to create an isolated part of the borough with the most Draconian controls anywhere outside a major town centre.”

The council’s notice in full says:

Dear resident,

I refer to your recent email objecting to the proposed extension of the operational hours of the Croydon Controlled Parking Zone (outer permit zones).

As you will be aware in November 2010 the Council commenced a public consultation to assess whether there was public support for a change to the current parking hours of operation for streets located in the Croydon Controlled Parking Zone.

It is clear from the number of letters objecting to and supporting the proposals that this is an important issue to lots of people in Croydon.

We have worked hard to analyse and assess the feedback received from residents and businesses and can confirm that the recommendations that will be presented to the Traffic Management Cabinet Committee on Wednesday 9th February 2011 will be the following:

1. RECOMMENDATIONS

The Cabinet Committee is recommended to:

1.1 Consider the objections and petitions received to the formal consultation on the proposal to extend parking controls in the Croydon Controlled Parking Zone (Outer Permit Zones) to an 8am to midnight, Monday to Sunday operation.

1.2 Agree not to extend the parking controls in the East Inner, East Outer, West, South and southern part of the North Permit Zone.

1.3 Agree to only increase parking controls to an 8am to midnight, Monday to Sunday operation in the northern part of the North Permit Zone in roads surrounding Mayday Hospital which include; Alma Place, Bensham Lane, Broad Green Avenue, Buxton Road, Campbell Road, Cameron Road, Constance Road, Dennett Road, Earlswood Avenue, Elmwood Road, Francis Road, Jamaica Road, Kelling Gardens, Lodge Road, London Road (part), Mayday Road, Midhurst Avenue, St Saviours Road and Wellington Road.

1.4 Agree not to extend the operational hours of the district off-street car parks to an ‘At any time’ operation.

1.5 Authorise the Head of Parking Services to make the necessary Traffic Management Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) in order to introduce the above proposal.

The report can be found in full at http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/minutes/cabinetcommittees/traffic/

I and the council are well aware of the pressures that households find themselves under during these difficult economic times. That is why we have really listened to what you have told us and will act upon your feedback.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the Parking Services Traffic Design Team, at Parking.Design@croydon.gov.uk.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your input into the consultation exercise. Your comments will help the Cabinet Committee to make the best decision for your area.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Phil Thomas
Cabinet member for Environment & Highways