Residents may purchase Visitor Parking Permits for friends/relatives to park near their house during the controlled hours free of charge and without time limit on one day only.  The number of Visitor Parking Permits available to each household is normally limited to 50 per year.  Business visitors are required to use the pay and display bays which are provided.  The controlled hours, time restrictions and the charges are adjusted to meet the needs of each zone.

Businesses are entitled to purchase business permits, if they can demonstrate the vehicles are essential for the running of the business.  Each business may apply for up to 2 Business Parking Permits.  Businesses which already have space for parking 2 or more vehicles off-street are not eligible for permits.

For a scheme to be successful it must be the right scheme and it must be enforced.  What will the wider impact be - where will the commuters go?  Will the problem simply shift elsewhere?  Clearly, the Council has to consider the needs of the whole community.  What will the impact be on local facilities and businesses?  Will a scheme add value to properties or not?  What is the cost of implementing and enforcing a scheme?  These are all questions that residents will want answers to.  Whatever your views, make sure you make them known to our local Councillors and Council officers.

Most of the information given in the article has been taken from the Council's document 'Merton Parking Permit Schemes - Permit Guidance Notes and Application Forms'.  The Council also operates a Permit Helpline - 0181 545 4656.

Allison Thomas