Croydon - pandemic parking enforcement

Croydon also managing to get a prompt response out - well done Croydon.

Another borough which has magically avoided sickness absence by traffic wardens.

A fairly common slackening of enforcement, not enforcing in residents bays or pay bays whether on street or in car parks. Barnet still charging in pay bays starting to look like a mean exception. It must be better to have cars in car parks rather than the High Streets in order to leave more room for delivery lorries.

More unprotected traffic wardens walking the streets getting or giving out the virus.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Sutton - pandemic parking enforcement

Well done Sutton for getting your answer out promptly.

That's good, zero traffic wardens off sick. An amazing variance from one local authority to another.

That clear as mud approach really isn't helpful, are you safe to leave your car or not?

Try not to become a 'persistent issue' whatever that is and you should be ok. Mr Mustard is completely lost about whether you should park on a yellow line(s) or not, the word 'essential' is not defined.

You do have to note that Sutton were quick to respond to lockdown even if they are giving out mixed messages. Overall they have slacked off parking enforcement pretty extensively whilst leaving the door open for themselves not to which is not entirely satisfactory.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

 

Barking & Dagenham - pandemic parking enforcement

Another borough which has managed to get the response out quite quickly.

Mr Mustard can't help but keep thinking that many councils are missing a trick in not redeploying staff to other duties that would be of more use in the current climate but if they outsource (no idea if B&D do or not) that takes time and negotiation.

A refreshingly clear answer, everything can still be enforced. Mr Mustard looked at the link, it is unclear.

A CPZ refers to the times of yellow lines usually being set by zone entry signs. Mr Mustard thinks that what the council mean is that you can park for 30 minutes in a residents bay without penalty rather than on a single yellow.

No gloves, no mask - forget the science, common sense would suggest these cannot do any harm.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Tower Hamlets - pandemic parking enforcement

Another council which has managed to get the FOI response out before the usual 20 days. Well done Tower Hamlets.

 More traffic wardens sick than in any other London council so far.

The contraventions which are not being enforced are for residents and pay bays, both on street and in car parks. You will not be ticketed for being parked outside of a bay or space but it is still good policy to not park that way.

The PPE may have been a response to the high sick rate.
Wiping down unique kit every day should prevent transmission of any bugs from one traffic warden to another (although Mr Mustard doesn't know the size of their base and thus whether they can social distance as they clock on and off).

Not ticketing for not paying will not cost the council much as there is hardly any traffic.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Update from a local resident - 24 April

The Tower Hamlets CEO base is pretty cramped.

The CEOs are directly employed, so might be subject to a more paternalistic employment relationship than those with NSL, APCOA etc.

Yesterday I saw three CEOs walking line abreast with about 1-2 feet between them, so not particularly conscious of the need for social distancing.

Bexley - pandemic parking enforcement

Bexley Council answered quickly but not fully and rather inconsistently.

Other boroughs with outsourced traffic wardens managed to answer these questions.

Bexley answered the PPE questions which related to the same outsourced employees so were inconsistent.

By the time they decide what other more useful duties the traffic wardens could be employed for, the pandemic will possibly be over, councils really aren't very nimble, especially when they have to negotiate with a third party to change anything.

Mr Mustard has asked for this question to be properly answered as the answer isn't clear although it appears to be the case that there isn't a contravention they won't issue a PCN for if they have the time and resources.

Scaled back isn't really helpful, either the council are enforcing or they aren't, they really should make their mind up and be clear. One man's dangerous or obstructive could be another's perfectly safe and reasonable, especially as traffic is about 5% of what it once was.

Pretty good on PPE, no surprise that masks cannot be found. In future planning scenarios this sort of equipment will be stored away in case of need, until it goes out of date or the pandemic is forgotten.

Bexley not really scaled back much but looking after their non-employees better than most.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Croydon - pandemic parking enforcement

Croydon have answered pretty quickly, 14 days, having warned Mr Mustard that they might be delayed in responding due to the pandemic so well done Croydon Council for that.

You know the questions by now.

That is good, not a single CEO (traffic warden) off sick. Perhaps they work from home or have a huge depot, or all work different times but whatever it was, something has stopped them from being sick.

'Supporting the police' usually amounts to them going into parks, telling people they should move on and then phoning the police to report loiterers and the police may or may not have the time at that moment to follow up the report.

So that is residents bays (there should be an apostrophe but it is never used on signs) which you are safe to park in and not paying to park in a car park (and perversely staying after the expiry of paid for time which you didn't need to pay for) and permit bays in car parks are free to use. If however you park for free outside of the bay marking a PCN is still possible, although whether traffic wardens will visit a car park Mr Mustard does not know. Always best to park neatly. Stay out of loading bays, doctors bays, disabled bays etc unless you qualify to use them. Stay off the pavement (except where marked) away from dropped kerbs and off yellow lines during their hours of operation.

No PPE. That really isn't good.

Clean assigned equipment should be the norm.

Overall, a reasonable relaxation of enforcement by Croydon, they'll still be able to issue loads of PCNs to the unwary.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Havering - pandemic parking enforcement

Firstly well done to Havering Council for getting their response out in a few days.

Being outside in all weathers; does that make people more or less likely to be off sick? Being a traffic warden is a stressful job so that could also be the reason for absence as could the virus but pointless asking given the lack of testing.

Just one traffic warden furloughed? Perhaps they were asked if they wanted to be?

When it came to question 4, the list of contraventions which are no longer being enforced, Mr Mustard was sent quite a list, but in a vertical format so he has had to type it out again.

On-street

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, 31, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57

Off-street (i.e. car parks)

70, 71, 73, 74, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 90, 93, 94.

Which leaves the following (paraphrased descriptions) which are still available to be enforced and therefore probably are being:

On street

01/02 - Single and double yellow lines with or without loading bans.
25 - loading bays
27 - next to dropped kerbs (or raised roads i.e. up to pavement level where people may cross the road)
40 - blue badge bays
61/62 - parked on the footway
63 - parked with engine running
99 - stopped on a pedestrian crossing or zig-zags

In car parks

81 - parked in a restricted area
86 - nor parked correctly within the bay
87 - parked in a disabled bay without a blue badge
89 - exceeding maximum weight, height or length
91 - parked in an area not designated for that class of vehicle
95 - parked for the wrong purpose
96 - parked with engine running

All moving traffic and bus lane contraventions are still being enforced.

If in doubt face masks really ought to be provided but care home workers should be prioritised for them if they cannot be obtained and traffic wardens put on other duties without public contact?

Havering have gone far further in relaxing the parking enforcement regime than many other London local authorities. The residents bays are free to park in as are all pay bays. Well done.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard