I just wanted to share my observations and frustrations in this forum. I did not expect entering a discussion on the subject... but that's what a forum is all about, isn't it.

8 years ago parking was easy all around the village and as I was a local using the local shops, several of them have shared with me their worries after the parking restrictions had been enforced.

I have been to a meeting held by the council 2 years ago where 300 residents attended. It was regarding mainly security/criminality in the area. Someone in the audience raised the issue of the parking restrictions and how it was affecting local businesses. 3/4 of the audience immediately came alive and wanted to say their bit. I especially remember one guy, shop owner since 20 years on Sydenham road (or Kirkdale, I do not remember exactly) in Sydenham who took the mic and said that his business had begun to shrink after the new restrictions: potential clients as well as old clients could not park anymore near his shop as they used to and were now going somewhere else. Several other shop owners confirmed similar problem.

The point is not whether or not people need to exercise or to loose weight by being forced to park their car 300 yards from their house or flat.

The point is not whether one like motorists or dislike them.

The point is that 'if it's not broken, don't fix it!'.

There was no need for such wild spread restrictions, either than some (or a few) interested parties filling up their wallets. (It may be that we are simply dealing with vested interest, as simple as that, what do you think?)

The point is that the result has been catastrophic for local shops whether you like it or not. In 2006 (or was it 2005?) 17 shops closed down on Dartmouth Road (that?s during a 12 months period).

The point is that in the project of Sainsbury refurbishment, an access to their parking - at the bottom of the shopping centre and directly ON the South Circular (the entry) - was planned and local restaurants and shops were expecting it to happen as promised and approved by the council. This tells you how much there was a strong concern for the parking situation created in the area: anyone could of course have access to the project and see the plans.

Then, this part of the planning was NOT executed and they planted a BUS stop right on the way of any possible entry to the parking instead... there was loads of room to place this bus stop somewhere else? if only 10 meters on the right or left.
It apparently has been the only part of the planning which has not been executed.
WHY?
It is then that the French owner of the Latitude who had hanged out until then in the hope that they would at last have parking for customers decided to leave.

Perry Vale? Well the parking is not too bad in this area is it?

As for East Dulwich, parking is MUCH easier than in Forest Hill (interesting actually... why?). I often shop there and usually park reasonably close to or close to where I want to go - and yes, business is flourishing and prospering there.

This is the 21st Century; life is fast and active and people want things now. Life is expensive today and they have to earn and earn fast. They have no time to waste. For the exercise they go play football or go golfing or fishing during the week ends.

I can't believe when I read things like 'they can walk like I do and take their time to go do their shopping'.

This is puerile and apathetic and quite egoistic an attitude. The shops need their business. They are the people who spend. And they do not feel like taking their time. They are in a hurry and instead of going to the local newsagent, stopping for a quick snack in one of the local joints, buying a pair of trousers or skirt in a local shop... well they are better go to down Lordship Lane where they can park, walk 20 steps, buy their stuff and go.... or for many others go to Saver Centre where they can buy everything in one go and go to the cafe.

There is absolutely no need of red lines on London Road, Baboonery. The 'loading only' parking near Sainsbury is a complete joke. Why 'loading only?' Can you really find a reason why????

There are several restaurants JUST THERE! To me it says ' don't go and eat there or we'll tow away your car!'. Which is what they do ? thank you Transport for London!

There would be plenty of space to park on Dartmouth road if they would simply draw the white lines to this effect or erase their yellow lines. Instead they spent a small fortune putting ridiculous bumpers which are of NO use at all, and narrowing the street here and there - for what??? As far as I can observe it is non-sense and that it has been approved I consider sort of doggy?

I have written to the person who took this decision and asked them why they did not use that money to build a safe exit for the children coming out and getting in the school down the road. I do not want to speak about the idiotic reply that I received to justify this waste of our money.

They even went as far as implementing parking restrictions in the artist muse Havelock Walk which has been p**sing them off since. It's a cul de sac! The only people that are penalised by this decision are the artists themselves. There was no problem of parking there before, absolutely none.

You say shop owners use this to justify their failure? Certainly they do. So did the three managements who have been trying to revive what was the Latitude then the Aceri. Each became good friends of mine and I know the ins and outs of their troubles. And so did Mc Donald themselves. They simply gave up.

My point is this: Forest Hill will not flourish and prosper unless commerce can prosper and lovely up market shops and restaurant settle here. (Not betting shops and WeatherSpoons!) And this will not happen for the time parking restrictions of such magnitude are enforced. Further, I can't imagine this not being part of an agenda and would love to know which one.