Statement on Norman Park Parking Charge Proposal 

The proposal will be voted on at the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 20th November. None of the Hayes and Coney Hall Councillors are members of this committee so cannot vote. However, one of your Councillors will attend to share the concerns of residents.

 

Of course we understand the frustration expressed about the proposed introduction. However, on balance, we believe that this measure is necessary, given the fact that the Council continues to face immense financial pressures due to the increased costs of statutory services such as Housing, Adult social care and provisions for children with special educational needs. Alternatives to making a parking charge at Norman Park would have included cutting money from the Council’s road maintenance budget and reducing street and park cleansing. 

 

We would like to draw your attention to the attached letter written by the Council’s Head of Finance to the Treasury which sets out the Council’s financial position very clearly. The financial challenges have been furthered by the Government’s recent budget and the decision to raise National Insurance Contributions from employers like Bromley Council. It is only by taking difficult decisions such as this which enable the Council to continue to deliver a balanced budget and provide residents with the award-winning services and a clean, tidy environment that they expect.

 

In the meantime, your Councillors will work to ensure the Council puts in place effective mitigating measures on surrounding streets to make sure residents do not suffer from unsustainable levels of parking and congestion. We have been in constant contact with Council officers to make sure that residents’ concerns are heard as loudly as possible.

 

Bromley Council has some of the lowest parking charges in London and we work to keep these as low as possible to support local drivers, businesses and voluntary groups.