Letter: Parking Is A Growing Problem in Guildford

Published on: 8 Jun, 2017
Updated on: 9 Jun, 2017

From Bernard Parke

Hon Alderman and former Mayor of Guildford

In recent times we have seen the inconsiderate parking of private cars in which it is reported to be the sixth most congested town in the United Kingdom.

Our cathedral has become a victim of this problem due to its neighbouring area and which it has made it extremely difficult to gain access to the building.

However, in May this year parking has become controlled by a photographic system which records not only the time of the stay but the vehicle registration plate.

If the car is left for even a fraction of two hours an £80 fine is imposed although this will be discounted to only £45 if it is paid within fourteen days.

Unfortunately, this problem is not unique to the cathedral for the nearby residential areas such as The Oval and Guildford Park Avenue also suffer from this menace.

However, in The Oval, we hope to see in the next few weeks parking bays for residents only.

Perhaps the question should be asked with this situation in mind how much will this parking problem be dealt with in the planning of so much central Guildford development?

Responses to Letter: Parking Is A Growing Problem in Guildford

Wayne Smith Reply

June 8, 2017 at 8:12 pm

I admire Hon. Alderman Parke’s optimism that any significant development will take place in Guildford because year after year all that happens is endless talk and yet another consultation.

I believe one thing that we can be sure of is that Guildford Borough Council will do absolutely nothing to alleviate the problems of parking, as they appear to view the motorist as a cash cow.

We often hear and read about Guildford being an attractive and vibrant place for shopping and dining but how many more would be attracted to visit if it wasn’t for the exorbitant on street parking charges in the town centre (80p for 30 mins), Sunday parking charges and even their meddling in the parking arrangements at Waitrose, that make it uneconomical to park and shop there unless buying more than £10 worth of groceries.

New build office buildings are restricted in the number of car parking spaces that can be provided and new housing developments don’t make proper provision for the number of cars likely to require parking, and all designed to drive us to modal shift. That’s the council’s solution. Everyone on their bike!

In the mean time, they’ll keep squeezing the motorist until the pips squeak.
Brian Holt Reply

June 8, 2017 at 9:02 pm

Parking is unfair in Guildford Borough. Egerton Road in Park Barn between Tesco’s and the hospital has parking restrictions with no parking between 8am and 9-30am, and between 4-30pm until 6pm Monday to Friday.

While hospital staff, people parking there going to the hospital for appointments, and those people visiting patients get a parking ticket for parking during these times, a Kebab van and a Kebab trailer are allowed to park there 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, fifty-two-weeks of the year without ever moving.

The Kebab Van is now opening earlier, about 4pm, and serving during the parking restriction times.

Why is the department at Guildford Borough Council who issue these two licences to trade there allow this to happen?. Why are they allowing them to park but not the motorist?

It is dangerous to have gas bottles in the road at the side of the van. I am amazed that this is allowed on a main road. I think a lot of people would like a explanation from the council.

The council licensing office is allowing mini bus operators to park their buses and operate from residential roads instead from a off-road premises.
- Martin Elliott Reply
  
  June 10, 2017 at 8:32 pm
  
  I don’t want to comment on the ins and outs of issuing a commercial traders licence to the kebab van, but I have to comment on a totally spurious and incorrect comment on safety.
  
  Unfortunately many people think they know about safety. They don’t. As a chartered engineer I spent most of my 40 year career in oil & gas safety. Not just in industry, but also various associations with HSC/HSE and trade associations in UK and Europe covering LPG and other industrial gases.
  
  Yes, LPG is a concentrated store of energy and therefore can pose a hazard (ability to cause harm), just like the petrol in all those cars parked there after 6pm. However the risk (likelihood of the hazard) is very low. Possibly lower than that of cars catching fire as regularly reported in Surrey.
  
  Intrinsically the container is capable of receiving a high level of energy without fracturing. The valve has extra protection. It also has an additional valve to vent off gas if engulfed by fire.
  I imagine the GBC licence requires compliance with safety standards for use and storage of gas cylinders. Originally issued by HSE, due to government cuts they are now issued by the LP Gas Association, but regularly reviewed and revised and ‘approved’ by the HSE.
  
  I’m not sure why Brian Holt has so much concern over bottled gas. I wonder, as I said, why he finds ordinary cars and presumably petrol stations tolerable without question.
  
  Being Guildford, even with national companies, I doubt there are any alternative fueled buses around, but I can assure they are in the UK as well as successful hybrid buses (not Boris’ buses)
  http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/
Brian Holt Reply

June 9, 2017 at 6:39 pm

All day parking on Sundays at Aldershot car parks is only 60p. That would not even get you 30 minutes parking in Guildford car parks.