CPZ consultation suggested responses

Consultation: suggested responses

(I have summarised the questions rather than copied them in full) 

Email (online only)

Why you are taking part
Resident / Work in the area / Business in the area / Study in the area / Children go to school or college in the area /Other
(Note this only applies to the street you are responding for. If you have a school your children go to or you work in a different location in Greenwich after Q10 in the printed booklet, "You are welcome to submit another survey regarding another map.)

Map drawing number
This is a number like SS-03-04-01-03-xx where xx is the two-digit number from 01 to 26 of the map of the street you are commenting on. You can find the map number and a link to the detailed map here

Q1 Have we reflected your suggestions on your street given in the listening phase in the proposals?
My response is to tick Not at all
In the box my response makes the following points
- The dates on the maps show that they all pre-date the consultation - so no changes were made
- Like this consultation e.g. Q4 some required questions only had options supporting the proposals. This resulted in many respondents either having to choose an option that they didn't support or finding that they could not submit their responses. In these circumstances it is unsafe to rely on the results of the original survey as a fair reflection of the community views.

Q2 Have we reflected your suggestions on your area given in the listening phase in the proposals?
My response is to tick Not at all
In the box my response makes the following points
- The dates on the maps show that they all pre-date the consultation - so no changes were made
- Like this consultation e.g. Q4 some required questions only had options supporting the proposals. This resulted in many respondents either having to choose an option that they didn't support or finding that they could not submit their responses. In these circumstances it is unsafe to rely on the results of the original survey as a fair reflection of the community views.

Q3 Would you be in favour of cycle hangers, cycle hire scheme or cycle stands?
I am not against them in principal but the area I live in, half way up the steepest, highest hill in London, makes cycling for all but the super-fit impractical.

Q4 Which of the three cycle schemes would you consider the most useful?
There is no option to say that none would be suitable for this area. The Council seems to agree as it has not included any of the three in its plans for Cantwell Road
If you find you cannot proceed without answering this question, include, in answer to Q3,  Discount my answer to Q4 as you have not given me the option to say that None of them would be suitable as, in my opinion, most people will be unable to cycle due to the steepness and length of the hill. 

Q5 Which days would you like controlled parking to apply?
Choose Other
There is no demand for controlled parking. This area does not fit the profile envisaged by statutory guidance
- There is no existing parking problem. There are about 110 parking places currently. The proposed residents' parking would leave only about 55 places. Tonight, during the holiday season there are about 70 parked, rather fewer than usual. Even tonight the suggested  parking restrictions would leave 15 residents' cars with nowhere to park.
- There is no regular parking by non-residents (except for care staff at a local facility)
- There is no road safety risk (STATS19 data shows no recorded collisions between 1999 and 2023)
- There are minimal environmental benefits  For many residents, beause of the hills, walking or cycling for most journeys is not an option. Many people use the 244 but onlyif they are going to Woolwich or the Hospital. Because of the steepness of the hill for many, if they could no longer use a private car, their longer journeys would be replaced by Uber journeys and shopping trips by home deliveries. There would be marginal net environmental benefit. For many elderly residents not being able to use a car would increase social isolation
- Access for emergency vehicles  Ambulances and fire engines gain ready access on ther rare occasions that they are needed. The 244 route passes up part of the Road. Occasional short delays are caused by it meeting vehicle like dust carts or large lorries delivering building materials.

Q6 At what time would you like controlled parking to start?
Q7 At what time would you like controlled parking to end?
Choose Other
Cantwell Road is emptier during the day than overnight thus confirming that there is no need for controlled parking.
See answer to Q5

Q8 Do you agree, "Sustainable Streets with help address vehicle emissions, road safety and air quality"?
Choose Not at all
There is no box to give a nuanced answer to this, for example to argue that carrying family's shopping home from a supermarket on the 244 is impractical.

Q9 What do you think about this consultation process?
The questionnaire is poorly and unprofessionally designed. Questions like Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8 do not offer an option of "I do not think this is necessary" or similar thus attempting to bias the results. Q4 Q8 do not offer an opportunity to explain your view. With Q4, unless it has been changed, the online form does not allow you to proceed unless you give an answer to this question. This is a serious fault verging on malpractice if it is designed to dissuade residents who disagree with the policy from carrying on to complete the survey.

It is hard not to conclude that this is even worse than just a money making scheme. It's an attempt to make the lives of many people with cars living in the hilly part of the borough, who have no off street parking, poorer, more expensive and more socially isolated with, because most of the journeys will still be taken either in a taxi or by a delivery driver, no discernible environmental benefit.

Q10 Do you have any further comments?
The keys on the map do not explain what the thin yellow or orange lines are. At a glance many residents may not realise that these are yellow or double yellow lines that will remove (in the case of Cantwell Road) half the current parking. Instead of people never having a problem parking, there will be wheely bins in the street to try to reserve parking and endless disputes with neighbours.
The detailed plans appear to have been drawn up entirely as a desk exercise without anyone walking the streets to see if they are practical. The choice of light and dark green for resident and meter parking is pure greenwashing. The date on the maps shows that previous consultations have been ignored.

Q11 How difficult was it to respond to the questions?
Choose Very difficult

Q12 What can we do next time to make participation easier?
Make your questions reflect all likely views, not just those of people who support the council's view. Give space on all questions to allow people to explain their own position. Do not make questions compulsory when not necessary as this inhibits submission by those who find no answer to reflect their views. Include a "Prefer not to say" option where appropriate, as in the More about you section.
Finding the maps is unnecessarily difficult. A list of streets and a link to appropriate map(s) would have been much more straightforward.
Provide a Key to all relevant features on the map. Things like significance of the yellow and orange lines on the map should not be for users to guess.

More about you
It's up to you how you choose to fill this in.