Rethink Over Olympic Parking Plan

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Parking restrictions scaled back during next year’s Wimbledon & Olympic tennis events

Residents and businesses in Southfields and West Hill were originally consulted by games organisers on plans to impose restrictions for several weeks before and during the Olympic.

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) proposed a parking protection zone in parts of Southfields and West Hill from the start of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, on June 25, until the end of the Olympic tennis event on August 6.

But following feedback from residents and businesses the council has decided to only impose the restrictions during each tournament - and not in between.

The parking protection zone aims to create a safe and secure environment around the venue, keep the traffic moving and prioritise parking for local people during Wimbledon and the Olympics, but the area will not be off-limits to visitors between July 8 and July 28.

The council's cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation, Councillor Russell King, said:
"The original proposal to introduce a parking protection zone for more than six weeks was considered excessive by residents and businesses who responded to the consultation.  It would have effectively stopped visitors driving to Southfields and West Hill for a prolonged period and may have had a negative effect on businesses in the area, with customers coming from outside the zone being unable to park.

"I am pleased that the council and LOCOG have been able to take a common sense approach to introducing the temporary restrictions, having listened to stakeholders and acted in their interests."

London Assembly Member for Merton & Wandsworth, Richard Tracey said:
"I was the first one to raise the anomaly which existed between the proposed arrangements for the Wandsworth wards - Southfields and West Hill - where the parking arrangements were to run continuously from 26 June to 6th August, whereas in the Merton wards around AELTC the restrictions were broken after the end of the Championships in early July and brought back just before the Olympic Tennis at the end of the month.   I approached LOCOG and the Council officers in Wandsworth about making the changes and I am pleased that sense has prevailed."

The parking restrictions proposed during the Olympics will operate from 8.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Sunday and will cover the existing CPZ around Replingham Road and extend across to Wimbledon Parkside, covering Augustus Road and Victoria Drive.

View the revised proposals here http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/60008/notices/1504243/from=2011-12-25;to=2012-01-04;all=wandsworth

Residents and businesses have until January 26 to comment. 

January 10, 2012