Agenda item

Olympic Games Time Parking Zones

Laurence Courtney, Highways Transport and Parking will attend the meeting to give an update on the Olympic Games Time Parking Zones

Minutes:

The Chair advised the meeting that The Olympic Games was a major event and the impact of which would be felt by everyone especially people living in Newham. The Chair added that it was important that arrangements were made to accommodate everyone attending the Games.

 

The Chair introduced Laurence Courtney, Highways, Transport and Parking who would be giving an update on parking during the Olympic and Paralympic Games period.

 

Laurence Courtney advised the meeting of the following:

 

  • During the Olympic and Paralympic Games period parking restrictions would apply between 8am and 9 pm for the whole of the borough;

 

  • At present approximately half the borough has controlled Parking Zones (CPZ);

 

  • During the Olympic and Paralympic Games period those parts of the borough without a CPZ will have restrictions (will be Event Zones); 

 

  • Currently within CPZs residents can purchase 40 visitor passes a month, this would still be the case during the Games time;

 

  • Residents currently living within a CPZ will automatically be covered for the extended hours imposed during the Games and the permit will cover the whole of the borough;

 

  • If you are not in a CPZ and your car is registered to a Newham address the DVLA will provide LOCOG with registration details so people can park in Event Zones;

 

  • During the Games period residents within a CPZ will be able tobuy an all day visitor voucher for a £1;

 

  • If you live in a part of the borough that presently does not have a CPZ (but will have during the Games – an Event Zone) and someone visits you can register their vehicle by phone;

 

  • Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) vans will drive around the borough to identify cars that should not be parked in Newham;

 

  • Between May – July you can register your car to your address in Newham;

 

  • If you have a company car you can register the car to your address (you would need a letter from the company you work for)

 

Laurence advised the meeting that the restrictions were being imposed by LOCOG, not by Newham Council. LOCOG has the legal power to impose the restrictions no matter what objections Newham Council may have.

 

Information on the Games Time parking zones will be sent out to all Newham residents in May which will give details on how to register your vehicle with LOCOG.

 

The meeting raised a number of questions to which responses were given as follows:

 

  • Will carers (caring for Newham residents) be able to park in Newham when undertaking caring duties?

 

  • If you live in a CPZ you can apply for a carers permit (at a cost of £10) and the carer (even if they are not always the same person) can display the permit in their car and would be eligible to park.

 

A supporting letter from a doctor would be required.  Any Local Service Centre can provide an application form for the permit.

 

  • If I work in the borough and want to visit a client but do not wish to give them my registration details how can I park?

 

  • You can pay and display in a CPZ and as an employee you can register your vehicle to enable you to park in the part of the borough that will become an Event Zone

 

·  I live above a Public House but I cannot apply for a visitor permit

 

  • No business or organisation has ever been able to buy visitor permits, however as a resident you would be able to buy 40 visitor permits (providing you have proof of residency)

 

  • Will cars with foreign number plates be covered?

 

  • No they will not be covered – cars with foreign number plates can register their car with the DVLA at a Newham address or will have to park outside Newham

 

  • I have a number of air conditioned vehicles that carry and deliver supplies to health centres – will they be able to park on the street?

 

  • You would need to register all of those vehicles with LOCOG

 

  • Are all businesses aware of this?
    • Information is placed in the Newham Magazine and will continue to be provided in future editions

 

  • Does the money from visitor permits go the Newham or LOCOG?

 

  • The money would come to Newham

 

  • How will people know that they that they will become a restricted area?
    • There will be signs displayed in the area and LOCOG will mailshot all addresses in Event Zones.

 

  • Who will meet the cost of imposing these restrictions?

 

  • All costs are being met by LOCOG

 

  • I drive to church on a Sunday will I be covered?

 

  • If you live in a CPZ then you will automatically be covered on a Sunday

 

  • Will the police be rigorously pursuing vehicles not meant to be parked in an area?
    • Certainly – around the Games Time there would be ticket enforcement

 

In response to a further question Laurence stated that there were no plans to extend current parking bays in a CPZ to accommodate any additional cars coming into the borough.

 

Laurence also advised the meeting that the Newham Magazine had a dedicated e-mail address for the Olympics where questions could be registered. The response to any such questions would be featured in the following Magazine.

 

The Chair thanked Laurence for his update.