UPDATE : 25 October 2017. Many residents will be aware that we have been working hard to introduce a Residents Parking Scheme in the Sandridge Road area over the last two years. To cut to the chase, as of now ( October 2017 ) after a great deal of chasing and harrying, lobbying our local Councillors and with a shed load of e mails back and forth to our revered Council, the scheme position is as follows:

The latest proposal is suggesting the introduction of Residents Only parking in the 10 streets the subject of the scheme on Mondays to Fridays between 09:30am and 11:30am and 1:30pm and 2:30pm. This should get rid of the majority of commuter parking bedevilling our daily lives. In addition, the number of permits will be restricted to 2 per household within the zone which, again, should reduce the problems associated with the volume of overnight parking.

When will it be introduced I hear you ask ? Well, that`s the rub. The Traffic Compliance Officers ( John Charlton and Gary Payne ) have not exactly covered themselves with glory in their handling of the process to date. We were told back in November 2016 that the scheme should be introduced by January/February 2017. That quickly segued in to “early Spring” and then, as numerous delays occurred, “Late Spring”.

It wasn`t until 10 February this year, 2017, that we finally received an indicative timetable from Mr Charlton which suggested something like a 21 week period to cover all the steps in the process. Assuming, of course, that all went smoothly and I think we all understand that that is a reasonable caveat.

The problem is that every time we feel we are making progress, further delays occur and no one is told what is happening. The Council`s website is only updated every quarter so if you want to know the latest state of play, here is the blog to keep you up to speed.

Where we are now is this. The latest consultation letter asked for our views on the timings of the proposed restrictions and days of operation. The closing date for that consultation was the 27 September. All the responses are in- 320 of them – and are being assessed by Messrs Charlton and Payne. A report on the outcome of the consultation should be with your Ward Councillors by the end of next week ( but then again , given the track record of foot dragging by the Officers concerned, it will probably be delayed ! )

If the report recommends we go to the next stage, then that will mean the preparation of the legal documents to introduce the Traffic Regulation Order; publication of the same; a 21 day period for comments; a period for assessment of any responses; a report on those responses; consideration of whether or not to proceed; approval to proceed ( hopefully ) the measuring up of the road and preparation of appropriate street signage then a date for introduction.

However, although we were initially given an outline timetable by Charlton, the latest response from his sidekick Gary Payne states “Unfortunately, it is not possible to give any dates on the progress (sic), this is because we just do not know what work will slow any project down and I would not wish to provide you with a timescale or date which is misleading”.

So having started with a worse than useless timetable ( early spring, late spring ) we then moved to a lengthy, but nevertheless understandable, timetable that suggested around 21 weeks and now we have NO TIMETABLE AT ALL !!

OK, what to do ? Here are the contact details for the two Officers involved:

John,Charlton@stalbans.gov.uk

gary.payne@stalbans.gov.uk

The line Manager for this pair is Maria Stagg who can be contacted at:

Maria.Stagg@stalbans.gov.uk

And here are the e mail addresses for our Ward Councillors. You should note, irrespective of any political opinions you may have that Richard Curthoys has been particularly active on our behalf and is as frustrated as are we over the continuing delays in getting something done. Anyway, copy them into any messages you send to the Council.

CouncillorR.Curthoys@stalbans.gov.uk

cllr.s.gaygusuz@stalbans.gov.uk

Cllr.S.McKeown@stalbans.gov.uk

Richard also suggests copying in the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Beric Read, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Alec Campbell. There addresses are as follows:-

cllr.b.read@stalbans.gov.uk

cllr.a.campbell@stalbans.gov.uk

My advice is that you may wish to send something along the following lines. Please feel free to adapt the prose to suit your style and add any other factors that spring to mind ! The key thing is that we keep on at this until we get something done. Remember, the last consultation process in 2012 failed because we did not get enough people behind it. Things are different today BUT the chance to get rid of the commuters and shoppers and improve our lives is with us NOW. If we do not keep the pressure on, we run the risk of losing what is so nearly in our grasp. If the Traffic Compliance Office have their way, the proposal will either fail or just keep being delayed. It has been too long already. Write now !

“As residents of Culver Road I/we find it extremely disappointing that the implementation of the Sandridge Road area Residents Parking Scheme continues to be delayed yet again. The indicative timetable finally provided by Mr Charlton/You in February of this year already followed on from two earlier “postponements” promising implementation by “early Spring” and then “Late Spring”.

The results of the latest refined consultation were with your office on 27 September and the results have still not been transmitted to Ward Councillors for their approval a month further on.  This draft scheme has been severely mishandled and the expectations of residents have not been met by a long way.

Now we hear that you are unwilling to provide any timetable at all ! We fully understand that due process must be observed, as you have pointed out on many occasions. However, there is a difference between observing due process and indulging in foot dragging.

Given the bungled history of this case and the continuing nightmare that commuter and shopper parking is bringing to our lives on a daily basis, we urge the Council to do everything possible to prioritise and expedite the administration of the proposed Sandridge Road Area CPZ and to provide a reasonable timetable for its completion and implementation.”

Yours etc