Elsie Road

[betty31]

I am feeling a little desperate and hoping someone might be able to advise. Over the last few years my own road (Tintagel) has become increasingly inaccessible. They have painted double yellow lines all around the spaces directly outside my flat - so I cannot park outside to load and unload my baby and all the associated paraphernalia. I have had a permit for the last couple of years since permit only was introduced. My boyfriend has not been able to park here. 

Then about 5 weeks ago my car was stolen from being parked on Tintagel. 

Whoever stole it dumped all my belongings including car baby seat, prescription sunglasses, my coat, babies coat and a load of other stuff...in a car park in Brixton. I was issued an illegal wasting notice with a £400 fine (there was an id card with my address on in car) and lots of photos of my dumped stuff. I was told it was not appealable and that my stuff had all been thrown away. The police closed the crime case and issued me a report within a few days - apparently car theft is so common at the moment they won't be looking further into it. 

I am still trying to get the insurance company to resolve things. I am still appealing the penalty notice. I have no car - so my very wonderful mum lent me hers. 

I have now been issued a penalty (or mum has), for me driving into Elsie road. Because I don't have a permit for the car. I haven't been parking here but I do need to get close to unload and load. I am so tired of now being basically prevented from using my own road. And utterly sick to my stomach I'm now expected to pay a fine for getting access to my own home. Has anyone an idea of someone I can contact over this - I'm utterly skint and just have had enough of the battles. I don't steal other peoples stuff and get away with it..yet I feel very resentful that the systems are in place to make me pay for driving into my own road!!!

 

Arrgh. Rant over. Thanks for any ideas...

 

[CPR Dave]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It all sounds grossly unfair.

The local Councillors used to post on here to help with problems like this but none of them bother any more.

You could try contacting them through here 

https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

Also, I would post this in the main forum that gets more views and less unhelpful anti-car gibberish from people who live outside London.

Edited September 21, 2023 by CPR Dave

[MrsR]

That is so terrible Betty. I just cannot believe the lack of empathy and bureaucracy you are having to face.  Utterly ridiculous 

[Spartacus]

Betty, as well as contacting your kical councillors, Copy in James mCash and your MP as they should be aware of this and ask for their assistance to resolve the issues.

With the dumping issue, if you gave a crime reference showing when your car was stolen then approach lambeth council and lodge an appeal using the crime reference as evidence. If they refuse then take it to   https://www.lgo.org.uk/ to raise an issue with Lambeth 

[northernmonkey]

James McAsh is the local cllr for G Green.

 

I think that there are some separate points here - firstly is the theft and dumping - these are nothing to do with your local cllr but would expect that the insurance would pick up on this as its a loss arising from the theft.  You've had some good advice though on the lambeth fine point.

 

The fines for driving into Tintagel are totally separate - I assume its because you've been driving in during the school street hours as otherwise there aren't restrictions on driving.  My understanding is that there are exemptions for residents but you have to register (I don't know how the registration process works - but presumably you do as you previously had your own car).  Did you register your mums car when you started using it - if not then that will be the issue. Going forward if the car won't be registered in your name you will need to avoid driving it during the restricted hours. 

[Jojo24]

I have just received a PCN today for driving into Elsie rd!

I was confused as to why I had received this and rang Southwark parking to to enquire, apparently this road is closed at certain times of the day and only those with a permit are allowed to drive here.

I’ve lived in East Dulwich for 35 yrs in Glengarry Rd, and had no idea of this enforcement, I was told that I should have read the sign before driving into the road, I mean who stops on a main road to read any signs before turning into a road?! Especially a road that you’ve driven down for 35 years with no problem!

my reason for driving down this road was to drop something off to the charity shop on the corner, as there’s no longer any access to this road since they closed off all the side roads 🤬

Im fuming and I’m sick to death of being penalised for driving down roads that were once accessible, it’s like driving through a mine field and nigh on impossible to navigate signs in time before you actually turn into a road, we are being bled dry ! 
 

I would rather give the £65 penalty fee to the charity shop than these thieves at Southwark 🤬

[Happyme5]

The situation is totally ridiculous.  The councils are using monies raised by PCN fines to bump up their funds.  I wonder what the monies is actually spent on. Maybe agency cover and consultancy fees.   The monies are not going to repair and maintain the roads. Bill and ben the flower pot men haven't eaten the cash.   Just another taxation and  cause of stress for living in London.

[malumbu]

I always read road signs having made mistakes in the past.  If signage is clear then we have no excuse.

[CPR Dave]

Signage seems to be deliberately obfuscated though to catch people out and increase revenues.

There are thousands of instances of councils having to rescind motoring penalties where signs were misplaced, obscured, contradictory or missing.

It's also very hard to believe that the revenues are being spent maintaining the roads. They are in a far worse state now than ever and maintenance that used to be standard (Street cleaning, litter picking, weeding, washing the roads) barely ever seems to happen.

 

We have weeds and grass growing out of the tarmac on our road. There's no money being spent here though.