Lewisham Southwark College, close to a council proposed CPZ. Pic: Callum Haslehurst-Mackenzie

Lewisham council have proposed plans to see if Ladywell residents would be in support of the installation of a new Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the area.

The council suggested the plans after receiving requests and complaints from residents and companies in Ladywell, asking for an improvement in parking.

A CPZ is introduced around busy locations that are near to popular institutions, which attract a lot of people. The plans for Ladywell show that the CPZ would be situated around Hilly Fields Park and by Brockley Cemetery.

The installation of a CPZ would mean all street parking is controlled and it would give residents and local business of the area priority of parking spaces over non-local drivers.

After the CPZ is initiated, people living and working in properties in the CPZ would be allowed to buy virtual permits. Properties outside the zones would not qualify.

Civil Enforcement Officers will patrol the CPZ to check vehicles for registered permits, and those without would be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.

Residents have spoken on Twitter about the proposed CPZ.

Keep CPZ out of SE4. I’ll fight it all the way and hope many will join me too. The lack of a CPZ is one of the reasons I love living in Brockley.

— Hubbell (@hubbell_walker) May 23, 2018

It’s not just about paying to park on public land. It would also make it impossible for example for me to drive kids to their doctors when they are unwell unless pay and display available too which often isn’t in a CPZ. Cars are useful, indeed essential for some.

— Joe Levenson (@joelondon76) May 23, 2018

Don’t mind paying more if necessary. CPZs can exclude people from using nearby amenities if not in zone. They also impose extra costs on residents/visitors. If you want to raise more money from motorists much better ways to do it-but CPZs supposedly not about revenue raising.

— Joe Levenson (@joelondon76) May 23, 2018

What happens to residents in those streets which are just outside the zone that already suffer from congested streets due to staff/students parking from LESOCO? Doesn’t make for a great environment for those people – with or without a car – if the CPZ is introduced.

— Matt Moran ✊ (@HelloMattMoran) May 23, 2018

Lewisham Council have said that the installation of a CPZ would mean that commuters are unable to park all day, and there could be a reduction overall in street parking, allowing space for emergency and refuse vehicles.

For the proposed Ladywell CPZ, this would affect parking near to Lewisham Southwark College, Ladywell station and University Hospital Lewisham.

However, some local organisations have said that they would not be as affected.

Statistics from the Office of Rail and Road show Ladywell station had an estimated total number of 1,291,978 passenger arrivals and exits made at the station in 2016-17.

Some users of the station arrive from outside of the ward and park near to the station. These people will be forced to find alternative means of accessing the station.

However, Southeastern Railway told Eastlondonlines: “Ladywell station is quite landlocked with not a great deal of room for car parking in the area anyway; most people using the station tend to arrive on foot, by bus or cycle.”

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, who manage the University Hospital Lewisham, told Eastlondonlines: “The Trust is very well served by public transport, with a number of buses stopping outside the hospital, and Ladywell station a five to 10-minute walk away. We do have some parking on site, including a number of disabled parking bays for Blue Badge holders.”

University Hospital Lewisham currently have 321 parking spaces on site, with the average hourly cost being £2 per hour.

Prices of the virtual permit would depend on the type of vehicle driven and the time period.

Properties within the zones can also buy short-term virtual permits for visitors, even if the resident does not own a vehicle.

For businesses in the CPZs, a six month permit would cost £255, and a one year permit would cost £500.

For further information on Lewisham council’s virtual permits in CPZ’s, click here.

The CPZ would run either on just weekdays or Mondays to Saturdays, or the entire week, depending on the outcome of the consultation.

Currently the consultation for the plans is still open, and closes on June 1. To have a say on the matter, complete the survey here.

For more information on the plans, click here.