Fears for Belmont parking plan after boss is fired

9:30am Saturday 13th October 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

The parking scheme follows concerns about the overspill from the Royal Marsden Hospital in Belmont The parking scheme follows concerns about the overspill from the Royal Marsden Hospital in Belmont

Uncertainty surrounds the future of a major parking control scheme after the consultant in charge was fired shortly before it was due to be implemented.

The consultant had been working with the council for a number of years on the Belmont parking scheme.

The parking scheme is set to affect more than 1,000 homes and 26 streets in the area and was aimed at easing congestion.

However the sacking of the consultant has sparked concerns about how the scheme will be taken forward.

Peter Mattey, chairman of Belmont and  South Cheam Residents' Association, said: "The whole thing seems to be up in the air. We just want to know they are going to complete it.

"I have had lots of emails from people who have heard about it and there’s great concern that this project - which is so far down the road - will be stalled."

The issue is expected to be raised at the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee tonight.

Deputy leader of the opposition, Tim Crowley, said: "Who was so daft as to let a consultant go with no notice?

"They let him go without speaking to him about what he is doing with it all.

"It is management of the poorest quality and our residents expect better than that and they are not getting it."

The parking scheme follows years of concern from residents that overspill from the Royal Marsden Hospital has meant they find it very difficult to park near their homes.

It will see a range of changes including short term parking restrictions on different days in different streets.

While congestion and tight parking on some roads has made it difficult for fire engines to gain access in some areas and caused serious traffic problems.

Deputy Leader of Sutton Council, Colin Hall, would not comment on why the consultant has been sacked. He said: "It is not appropriate, nor the council's policy, to discuss individuals." 

The council confirmed that the company Project Centre is now running the parking scheme in the Belmont area and that previous plans are being continually developed.

Comments(8)

bystander tolworth says...
8:59pm Sat 13 Oct 12

What do these people who live around this wonderful hospital expect, did the hospital not exist when they purchased their houses? It is very mean minded to protest about parking levels when some of the roads are on a main bus route. I sincerely hope that this scheme fails and that no one who has backed this pathetic attack on people who least need it ever have the need to use a hospital where the selfish locals have prevented their access to such facilities.

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gbzgc says...
5:17am Sun 14 Oct 12

Bystander, what an absolute load of rubbish, you obviously have no idea what you are talking about or about the issue.
I have lived in the streets around the Marsden for many years and the parking is a very real issue that needs to be addressed. Many roads are very difficult to get down because of parking on both sides, the buses are regularly stuck on Banstead Road South, Fire Engines would have no chance getting down Fairway most days and regularly I have not been able to get in my own drive.
This starts from 7.15 in the morning and only eases at about 5.30 because the parking is predominantly by the staff of the hospital who do not want to pay the charges in the hospital (which are ridiculously high I accept).
The problem was made worse a few years ago when this incompetent council imposed half measures in a couple of streets which compounded the issue everywhere else.
Something very fishy is going on here as this is at least the 4th time we have had consultation without any subsequent action despite overwhelming residents support for time restrictions in the day and a genuine need for the issue to be resolved. Both the hospital and the council have a duty to take action.
Bystander, your ignorance is actually quite depressing, if you have nothing of value to add then I suggest you add nothing at all.

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bystander tolworth says...
7:43am Sun 14 Oct 12

Actually gbzgz your ignorance is equally depressing or you would know that the vast majority of hospital staff do pay for their parking. You would also know that if the parking were to be considered a hazard to emergency vehicles that the police would have taken action a long time ago. I notice that you do not include the parking caused by the parents who drop off their children at the local school.
Sorry that you feel the need to be so rude.

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gbzgc says...
10:07am Sun 14 Oct 12

Bizarre? What local school? If you mean Seaton House it is considerably further down the road and is not the cause of the problem at all.
The majority of cars parked and obstructing traffic down Banstead Road South, Downsway, Fairway, Southway are those of staff from the hospital who come and park between 7.30-8.30 every week day. Your facts or assumptions are simply not correct.

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Michael Pantlin says...
2:14pm Sun 14 Oct 12

Too many cars for the available land space and with the population growth out of control the problem can only get worse. How about a policy of nowhere to keep your car off road then no drive? That would give us more road space to drive on instead of half the road or more being used as a car park. More public transport passengers would give an incentive to better public transport which would have more space to move around and move more quickly than on car thrombosed road space.

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CPN says...
2:57pm Mon 15 Oct 12

bystander tolworth "did the hospital not exist when they purchased their houses?"

I think you do not realise just how much the Royal Marsden has grown over the years. I have lived near the hospital for over 50 years. The Sutton branch started as a place for Fulham patients to come to recuperate; then it started its own specialities and now functions totally differently from when it began.

And yes, roads around can get almost impossible to drive round, let alone park in. Downs Road can be virtually impassable, not helped by it being quite narrow. Maybe improving public transport a bit would indeed help; a bus shelter for the S4 bus outside Belmont station would be very helpful, and maybe adding a few minutes to the S1 timetable so that bus goes into the Marsden before heading up to Banstead are two ideas

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Michael Pantlin says...
4:45pm Mon 15 Oct 12

CPN wrote:
bystander tolworth "did the hospital not exist when they purchased their houses?"

I think you do not realise just how much the Royal Marsden has grown over the years. I have lived near the hospital for over 50 years. The Sutton branch started as a place for Fulham patients to come to recuperate; then it started its own specialities and now functions totally differently from when it began.

And yes, roads around can get almost impossible to drive round, let alone park in. Downs Road can be virtually impassable, not helped by it being quite narrow. Maybe improving public transport a bit would indeed help; a bus shelter for the S4 bus outside Belmont station would be very helpful, and maybe adding a few minutes to the S1 timetable so that bus goes into the Marsden before heading up to Banstead are two ideas
I agree with you CPN about the S1 bus. A few years ago when they were consulting I suggested the S1 call at the RMH as does the S3 and S4 and TfL rejected the suggestion because the people on the S1 would not like the extra few minutes added to their journey. I thought just like Mr. Spock that they were being illogical.

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CPN says...
6:25pm Mon 15 Oct 12

Not all the people going up to Banstead (and back!) might like the extra few minutes, Michael Pantlin, but those who need to go to the RMH from Sutton, and indeed from Banstead might be pleased! There will always be advantages and disadvantages in any change, and passengers would get used to it pretty quickly. Maybe passengers on the S3 and S4 would rather the bus did not pop into the RMH? But no-one complains as far as I am aware! it is just accepted as part of the route.

It seems an obvious change to me, considering how close the S1 goes now. Anything which makes access easier, and removes the need for some car journeys, should be looked at.

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