A South London council has been accused of “deliberately ignoring” residents’ concerns on “ridiculous” new parking restrictions in their area.
Greenwich Council agreed in December to suggest adding parking charges on Rochester Way and Welling Way in Eltham.
Rates ranged between 50p and £1 to park for an hour, with a maximum daily charge of £4.
Conservative Councillor Matt Hartley said at a scrutiny meeting for Greenwich Council on January 30 that he was concerned by only 16 responses being included in the council officers’ report on the scheme, when 139 responses from residents had been received in total.
The councillor said he felt the objections of a large number of residents from Eltham Park had also been disregarded, who were worried the restrictions will drive traffic to neighbouring roads.
Cllr Hartley said at the meeting: “This has created a terrible impression. This comes across as the council deliberately ignoring Eltham Park’s strong objections to these restrictions, which are non-residential roads.
"And I think the council has a lot of work to do to convince anyone in Eltham Park that this was in any way a genuine consultation.”
Paul Nevard, senior parking projects manager for Greenwich Council, said that a notice for residents to voice their concerns on the scheme was advertised for four weeks in August 2022, as well as a notice being put in the local press.
Regarding only 16 comments being included in the report, Mr Nevard said that the comments published in the report don’t indicate a preference to specific objections being considered.
Mr Nevard said: “Fundamentally, every comment for and against the scheme is always given to the decision maker to view and look at… T
"he report is very much a summary of what we feel are significant material objections that we feel need to be responded to.”
One resident said parking in the area was never a problem, according to council documents.
They said: “This is just another money-making exercise with no real justification.”
Another resident said: “It is a ridiculous idea which will cause mayhem and havoc to the local roads. What is the point of having a station that you can’t park anywhere nearby?”
Council documents said the reasoning behind the new parking charges was to cut car use and encourage residents to walk and use public transport to get to Falconwood train station.
The scheme comes alongside Greenwich Council’s wider plan to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Cllr Hartley said: “I think when you’ve got 136 out of 139 comments opposed to a scheme and it goes ahead regardless, I’m not sure how more than a 98per cent objection you would need really to show that you’re taking into account that view.”
Labour Councillor Averil Lekau said at the meeting: “When [Cllr Hartley] says 136, you also have to take into account the numbers that didn’t respond.
"Again, I have to say that in these traffic management orders, someone is less likely to respond to say, ‘I think this is a great idea,’ because if you agree with it you just don’t bother responding.”
At the end of the meeting, the call-in committee agreed to move ahead with plans to add parking charges to Rochester Way and Welling Way, in a 2-1 vote.
The suggestion will be passed onto the Greater London Authority for consideration.
Labour Councillor Nick Williams said before the vote: “It seems to me that the decision that was made was informed.
"There was an amount of feedback that we have confirmed was looked at, acknowledged and then the decision was made.
"I would also say the amount would suggest that people expressed their views.”
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