Opposition to Charging for Car Parking at Norman Park

Bromley Council have announced they intend to start charging for the use of the car park at Norman Park in Hayes Road Bromley. The Liberal Democrat Bromley Town Councillors are opposed to this proposal. While we appreciate that the Council has to make money where it can in these difficult financial times, the net benefit of £35,000 per annum is disproportionate compared to the impact on users of the park and to people who live nearby.

The proposal will be considered by the Environment & Community Services Committee on Wednesday 20th November. As the Conservatives have proposed this, and as they are in the majority in the Council, there is a high chance that it will be accepted, but the Lib Dems will be speaking against it and are encouraging people to sign a petition organised by a local resident in advance of the meeting so that the Conservatives can see the weight of opposition. 

The park is a much loved and popular destination. There are the weekly park runs, regular athletics meetings at the newly refurbished Blackheath & Bromley hub, many youth sports teams meet regularly for training and matches, there are a number of health and fitness groups who meet there, many people follow their fitness regimes running around the park, plus there is a constant flow of families bringing their children to the park and the playground plus of course the many people walking their dogs.

To introduce car park charges will be a disincentive to people to use the park, and will in particular encourage people to park in nearby roads, having a major impact on the people who live there. We’ve all seen the impact on local roads when the parking in Norman Park is full, e.g. at some of the annual events that are run there, or when there’s a popular match at nearby Bromley FC. Long queues build up, buses are regularly stuck trying to get through narrow gaps between parked cars, and the noise and disruption to local residents is considerable.