Council ignoring parking situation

henrygregory

Looking for some advice...
We have lived in a small council estate for over 20 years. As time has gone on, parking in our small residential car park has become very difficult with more and more people owning cars.

We are at a point now where the car park is really oversubscribed. I have written to the council several times to ask them to consider provisioning extra ones (which is possible, there is space) and also to inform them of my disability. I have not demanded a space, but have asked them to consider making more available such that people like me don't have to suffer so much.

It has been over a year and I have had nothing. My emails are ignored, phone calls never returned. I have been fobbed off no end and would be really grateful if anyone can give me some advice on what the next steps would be?

agrinnall

When you say you have written to the council, do you mean to council officials? If so, then you may well have more success if you contact your local Councillor and get him/her round to show them the situation and enlist their aid.

thesaint

Escalate your query.

henrygregory

agrinnall wrote: »

When you say you have written to the council, do you mean to council officials? If so, then you may well have more success if you contact your local Councillor and get him/her round to show them the situation and enlist their aid.

Thank you for both of the posts. I have been dealing with the local housing officer.
Who would I look to deal with next?

thesaint

henrygregory wrote: »

Thank you for both of the posts. I have been dealing with the local housing officer.
Who would I look to deal with next?

In regards to my suggestion, call the office and ask them who is the superior of the person who you spoke to.

jaylee3

Good luck with that henrygregory. In my experience, and that of virtually everyone I know, the council are consistently unhelpful with stuff like this. I am never sure why, whether it's a limited budget or because they are so big, that many fairly non-emergency things get pushed to the backburner.

My cousin and her husband have been complaining about a similar issue; their RTB house is in an old style 1930s cul de sac with about 22 houses, and parking is a nightmare. Especially as half the houses have no drive!

To be fair there isn't a lot they can do in the cul de sac as there isn't much room. However, there is a bit of scrap land that has scruffy bushes all over it at the side of the cul de sac, that could easily house 12-15 cars, but when they mention this to the council, it just falls on deaf ears.

This is the problem with council areas/estates; usually large houses, but tiny gardens and very little car parking. Of course, when my cousin's home was built, hardly anyone had a car!

It's unlikely that anything will be done, as this is not a maintenance and repair issue, or a health and safety issue; it's just inconvenient for you (and your neighbours.)

Is there anything that you and your neighbours can turn into car parking? My cousin and her neighbours are thinking converting the piece of scrap land themselves LOL.

stator

Councils will only usually do this if the residents pay. If most residents are renting from the council it's unlikely to happen. If you qualify for a disabled space it would be better to get one of those.

booksurr

the council has very limited funds and will do nothing unless you bring political pressure to bear via your councillor (or you play the disabled card)

AlexMac

henrygregory wrote: »

Thank you for both of the posts. I have been dealing with the local housing officer.
Who would I look to deal with next?

I don't agree that you should merely escalate your complaint up the managemnt line, as there will be about six levels of managers between your local officer and the 'Director of Housing', they'll back each other and you'll get bogged down. Same if you register a complaint; you'll just end up with a 3-month 'Complaints procedure' (about waht; their failure tp reply...? )

The Council Staff are accountable to elected Councillors- the ones you vote for each year. Some Councillors have more power than others. Start by speaking to one of your 2-3 ward councillors who will probably have local 'surgeries' where they meet the people who they represent. If you have the choice, go for one from whichever party won the local election and runs the Council. Check your local Council website or ring the town hall.

If that fails, email them- direct or via https://www.writetothem.com/
although I thing face to face is best.

Document your past contacts with the council; copies of letters, dates of these and phonecalls or visits.

Get the local disability Action Group involved- detail from your local library or google. Let them know your problem, take their advice, but don't let them lobby on your behalf until the approach to the Councillor fails; Be polite and persistent. Even if your local Councillor of a member pf the local ruling 'majority party' he or she might be a powerless 'backbencher'.

https://www.writetothem.com/ also lets you contact your MP, but try the Council 1st. Good luck

Cash-Cows

Sorry but I don't see why council tax payers should pay for parking spaces.

pinkshoes

Why not move house to somewhere with a parking space?

I wouldn't even consider buying or renting a property without private parking space.