Woolwich parking problems: Petition presented on issues
A petition has been presented to Greenwich Council after complaints of poor parking outside a Woolwich school on Vincent Lane.
Plumcroft school sits at the junction of Vincent Road and Burrage Road near Woolwich Arsenal station and numerous bus routes.
The 130-strong petition was discussed in a full council meeting and states: “This ongoing reckless behaviour is often causing significant traffic congestion which is making it incredibly unsafe for children walking to and from school.
“Cars and buses are frequently mounting the pavement due to road blockages, and cars are often left idling which is increasing pollution.”
It calls for a number of measures:
“We are proposing upgrading road markings directly outside the school from double yellow lines, to zig-zags with better signage (a standard outside schools in the surrounding area), and installing traffic enforcement cameras issuing immediate fines to deter these actions in the future.
“When challenged about illegal parking parents often complain about the lack of adequate parking in the area, though designated parking spaces on Vincent Road and on the surrounding streets are often left unused so parents can illegally park directly outside the school gates.”
In their response the council noted that using cameras for general parking infringements was banned in 2014 though they can be used in specific areas such as on “Keep Clear” markings outside schools.
No guarantees are being given: “As part of our proposals for Vincent Road, we will be putting forward the option to include a School Keep Clear marking.
“We have advised our camera enforcement team of this request and of our proposal. If the School Keep Clear marking is introduced, consideration may the be given to the introduction of a camera.”
Other issues
Another petition was presented at the same council meeting concerning issues on another road in Greenwich borough and poor driving.
In the two and a half years years since a previous petition concerning West Hallowes was presented, residents complain little has been done.
Greenwich responded saying they couldn’t consult after that 2022 petition due to a backlog – however at the same meeting Greenwich officers state the Woolwich school issue will see an imminent consultation.
When it comes to West Hallowes they state:
“Our communications team need to avoid undertaking too many consultations at the same time, as they lead to confusion and frustration on behalf of the public, which can result in a poor response rate to consultations.
“Hence, the consultation for West Hallowes has been temporarily put on hold.”
During the council meeting one resident stated they had been trying for seven years to gain improvements for the street and were bitterly disappointed.
They also criticised the council’s claim that people would be confused, stating residents were capable of responding to the relevant consultation.
