CROYDON COMMENTARY: There’s been plenty of grumbling since the council’s “strong leader” (their phrase, not ours), Tony Newman, told the people of Coulsdon to “get on yer bike”. LEWIS WHITE welcomes the re-opening of the Lion Green Road car park, and makes another suggestion

After a pointless six-month closure, which caused inconvenience to many and lost business to traders, Coulsdon’s car park is about to re-open

Many Coulsdon residents are, like me, not heavy users of the car, although many of us may own one.

I spend a good chunk of each week walking (good for my health) down to the station in the morning and back at night, for the daily commute by rail to London and back. I also use the single decker Pollards Hill bus if I am burdened by shopping, to get back up the hill.

At the weekend, I use the car to go to church, the pub (I am very careful, and never drink and drive) or shopping in Coulsdon, and the occasional excursion. I also go by bus or train to Croydon as I use my season ticket, and it saves the cost of parking in Croydon.

I guess that many of us are not massive petrolheads, but still use the car to save precious time at the weekend, after a full week’s work.

While a great user of buses and Southern Rail, like most, I need Coulsdon to have parking for this reason. Others need parking as they shop or work in Coulsdon, or drive in from more outlying areas, to park in Coulsdon and then go to London by train..

I am glad that the council has listened to the residents and are reopening Lion Green Road car park, albeit for a restricted time perhaps in its current form..

I hope that they ensure that adequate parking is provided at several Coulsdon town centre sites to cater for the needs of the regenerating Coulsdon. It does at last seem to be taking off as a town centre, and should get more footfall as more businesses open up.

We need parking — enough, not too much, nor too little. I hope that the council are talking to the residents about this future provision.

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