Parking in Dulwich park

[richard tudor]

So those cyclists in Lycra that go round the park have to go that fast so they also do not fall off?

[One Dulwich]

paulipedia Wrote:

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> Every time I've been to the car arks they've been

> empty. Going well then...

My general observation is that whilst the car park is empty, the park is not. This suggests that more people are walking to the park.

[richard tudor]

Which points to the fact it is nearby locals that are walking and not others who are finding it difficult to get there with kids and all the bits. Which was the plan I suspect all the time.

[Metallic]

Super Sleuth Wrote:

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> Walked through the park Sunday afternoon and

> counted 10 cars with parking tickets! And several

> shocked car owners returning to their vehicles to

> find unexpected tickets under the windscreen

> wiper!!

>

> Also noticed the Dulwich Park 'Old College Gate'

> entrance on College Road has an outward facing

> Park Information board welcoming visitors and

> advising next to a big blue P icon "Free Parking

> in Marked Bays Only". No mention anywhere of the

> newly introduced ?2 an hour charge!!

>

> Come on Southwark - if you're going to introduce a

> tax on park users, at least make it clear to

> drivers entering the park that parking charges now

> apply!!

You cannot miss the signs, or the date the charges began. No excuses.

[Metallic]

At the protest meeting about the charges being introduced, everyone there was guilt-tripped. Southwark need the money to keep basic services open, and they quoted a nursery that would have to close if they didn't raise the ?200,000 they are expecting.

Frankly it is unfair on everyone. Park users, families, everyone. And now College Road is over-parked and it makes it a narrow road for vehicles passing each other.

[Rockets]

Are the council allowed to do reinvest money raised from that to other services - I thought they were, by law, only allowed to spend money raised from parking charges back on road infrastructure?

[exdulwicher]

Rockets Wrote:

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> Are the council allowed to do reinvest money

> raised from that to other services - I thought

> they were, by law, only allowed to spend money

> raised from parking charges back on road

> infrastructure?

Yes and no. All income from parking charges and penalties has to be invested locally rather than going to central government or becoming a profit.

Doesn't say it has to be invested in roads.

[One Dulwich]

exdulwicher Wrote:

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> Rockets Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Are the council allowed to do reinvest money

> > raised from that to other services - I thought

> > they were, by law, only allowed to spend money

> > raised from parking charges back on road

> > infrastructure?

>

> Yes and no. All income from parking charges and

> penalties has to be invested locally rather than

> going to central government or becoming a profit.

> Doesn't say it has to be invested in roads.

I wasn't aware of this- Interesting. In these times of reduced budgets for councils, that does somewhat incentive more charges.

[AylwardS]

Interesting question on how the surplus is spent. More detail on how the surplus is spent by Southwark.

This is from the Council report ?Parking Annual Monitoring Report 2018/2019? published in January 2020.

?The surplus is reinvested in the highway network with 75 per cent of this spent on highway maintenance, with the balance spent on supporting borough wide measures including road safety?

Table 2 on page 8 shows how the surplus for the financial years from 2014- 2019 has been spent - Road Safety including School Crossing Patrols, Contribution to fund Highway maintenance/improvement works, Environment Reserve, Housing and Community reserve, Contribution by council - estate set up costs.

[first mate]

rahrahrah Wrote:

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> exdulwicher Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Rockets Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Are the council allowed to do reinvest money

> > > raised from that to other services - I

> thought

> > > they were, by law, only allowed to spend

> money

> > > raised from parking charges back on road

> > > infrastructure?

> >

> > Yes and no. All income from parking charges and

> > penalties has to be invested locally rather

> than

> > going to central government or becoming a

> profit.

> > Doesn't say it has to be invested in roads.

>

> I wasn't aware of this- Interesting. In these

> times of reduced budgets for councils, that does

> somewhat incentive more charges.

And incentivise fines. Who is hiring and managing the parking wardens? Are they directly employed by Southwark or contracted out?

[Ontherun]

It's just your regular Joe Southwark traffic wardens buzzing around on their mopeds. I've seen at least one checking cars everytime I've been to the park recently.

[sally buying]

when this charging in parks was first promoted the following was the main reason given along with Southwark's aim to drive cars of the road.

"Our hope is that those who are able to will adopt more sustainable modes of transport, and this in turn will help to improve air quality for everyone in Southwark. Access to parks for vulnerable and less able people will be maintained as Blue Badge holders will still have free and unlimited parking.

"In addition to the reasons above, ongoing budget pressures have meant that it has become necessary to find new ways of offsetting costs so the high standards in our parks can be maintained. There are also cases that some of our park car parks appear to be used by commuters and we are seeking to prioritise park users."

Reading above does this still apply or all park fund creamed off?