help! fine for parking in Tessa Jowell Centre!

[Huggers]

Ive just received a fine for parking in the TJC for 14 minutes while I sat in the car. I had delivered my daughter for an emergency blood test and she asked me to wait. I read the signage and couldn't see anything about not being allowed to park there. If I had I would have parked in a residential street. Mind you I was a bit stressed and worried. My daughter as a result ended up in A&E later that evening- its OK, she was alright in the end. Can anyone clarify the rules on this? It was extremely misleading signage.

[Pugwash]

You have to register your vehicle in the reception area - and signage is quite clear both in the car park and by the entrance doors.

[Huggers]

my daughter went into the reception area - it wouldnt have occurred to her. She is not a driver and was already upset. I was in the car. I would have registered it if I had seen that signage. I didn't get out of the car.Literally pulled in and then pulled out when she came back.

[malumbu]

Sorry for your distress Huggers. And thanks for keeping your post rational and factual.

From the perspective of someone who has had a few tickets over the years I found that you have to be philosophical and take it on the chin. But it took me decades to reach this position! I've fought tickets in the past but never won - went through to an appeals to be told that they agreed with me that it was an innocent error (signage, ownership of the car park, time of day, weather) it was still properly issued.

If you consider that the signage could be improved contact them with positive suggestions - whilst old fashioned from time to time I still send a letter as unlike web based/e-mail more likely to be read (I'm talking about you BBC).

My personal view also depends on the size of the penalty - up to ?40 it is "oh well", above that I question whether it is proportionate. Contacting the health trust, MP or whoever could be worthwhile. There was a commitment in the last Cameron manifesto to tackle excessive parking fees, I expect that this was aimed at the private clampers. I was clamped once, I digress. Writing to your MP asking them to take action about penalties that are excessive may be worthwhile, although not sure how high this is on the political agenda at the moment. Lot of interest on NHS parking fees before election.

There is a political point on proportionality in that a bigger agenda should be ensuring better driving standards - it's 'OK' to drive dangerously but if you park in the wrong place, woe betide you. I separately had a battle with another local authority about parking enforcement - most seems to be 9 - 5 Monday to Friday, allowing those on a night out to park where they like. Yes, the Banqueting Hall in Forest Hill, I am talking about you (noting this is aimed at the customers, as the business do have signage saying there is a free car park 3 minutes away).

[siousxiesue]

When I had my first jab there, the first question asked by the volunteer/welcoming guy was 'Have you parked in the car park'?

I think for this very reason.

It needs to be exceptionally clear, it's a health centre. People are likely to be ill/stressed/distracted.

[Huggers]

I don't think my daughter was asked this, she said someone pointed her to the blood test bit and there was no other interaction.

[Huggers]

thank you Malambu. The fine is ?85 and ?50 if paid immediately. I do usually cough up and I can see they would not know my reasoning. Its just a machine reading my numberplate.

It was unfortunate that I was literally dropping her off and pulled into a space and she was upset and asked me to wait. Of course if I had read the sign properly I would have given my reg to reception. But I did look at the immediate signage because I wondered if I was allowed to park and it just said who the car park belonged to. It is very annoying as I then had to pay the congestion charge to take her into ST Thomas's where she was referred for a GP appointment at 8pm- a very expensive day.

As it is a free car park I wouldnt think the centre would want people to be penalised like this.

[JohnL]

They want me to provide a blood pressure reading urgently :)

I'll leave it a few weeks to settle (Melbourne Grove never asked me for one in 10 years) - I would get caught be this for sure as I have done at Sainsburys.

[JohnL]

Ah here we are - on the autism web page but not on the hospital web page.

Parking:

A few parking spaces are available at the center (East Dulwich Grove entrance). Please remember to enter your number plate details in reception for free parking.

https://www.londonearlyautismdiagnosis.com/how-to-find-us-tjhc

[fishbiscuits]

When I was there the other day (on foot), my first thought was "ooh, I wonder if I can drive/park here in the future". So I checked the signage in the car park, and it said you have to register your vehicle in reception. So to be honest, I think it is pretty clear, and you'll probably struggle to fight this one.

[JohnL]

37 bus for me when I go down for my blood pressure - I think maybe only those who need to should drive.

It's not a joke that it goes up if you get stressed is it - so no stress for me.

[malumbu]

It's a nice cycle ride for me - not just saying this because of the threads on LTNs and the like - with reasonably secure parking. So much nicer than the old East Dulwich hospital.

[Huggers]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 37 bus for me when I go down for my blood pressure

> - I think maybe only those who need to should

> drive.

>

> It's not a joke that it goes up if you get

> stressed is it - so no stress for me.

Maddeningly we are walking distance but daughter was not in good state

[Huggers]

Thanks for all the good advice and private messages. This is a journey I would always walk but this was also a day when we ended up in A&E

[nxjen]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 37 bus for me when I go down for my blood pressure

> - I think maybe only those who need to should

> drive.

>

> It's not a joke that it goes up if you get

> stressed is it - so no stress for me.

If you were to walk, which I think is quite doable for you, it will be even lower

[JohnL]

I always walked to Melbourne Grove - not sure how far up the hill from LL the new surgery is as only past it on the bus but no doubt it's doable - will time myself approx if I do so I know how long.

[Jules-and-Boo]

they could possibly put a large sign up on the gates

I suppose it's logical that you would have to register, otherwise it would be used by everyone for general parking.

I would be inclined to contact them and explain your situation and see if they'll let you off.

[Huggers]

thanks I have now done that. It was a very fraught situation

[ianr]

I was perturbed by a report back in November about someone else's charge, https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,2164086,#msg-2166483, and had a look around myself few days later. I'll write about that later, when I've compared what I saw then with what's available now.

There are about half a dozen different service providers using the building. I think you're going to have to find an administrator there who is responsible for the premises themselves, and ask them to cancel the charge, which I think would be a wholly reasonable thing for them to do. If it was the GP surgery that was visited, perhaps they would be the best first port of call. It would be interesting to know how many other cases there may have been.

[sandyman]

Why can't they just give you an hour or 90 minutes free parking without the hassle of registering at a time when your mind might be on other things?

That would cover most medical visits - presumably what they want to do is stop commuters parking there all day and the cameras already in situ could police that.

[Penguin68]

Because people parking would not necessarily be visiting the clinic, but parking there because everywhere else is now residents parking or blocked off.

[Huggers]

thanks everyone for all the advice and private messages.

I sent an email appeal and got a prompt cancellation of the fine ''this time''!

thanks so much again.

[alice]

good