Fresh controversy after final Croxley parking schemes published

Three Rivers District Council has confirmed a list of eight streets in Croxley Green, including Dickinson Square, which will form a new permit zone from March 31.

Only permit-holders will be able to park in the designated streets on weekdays between 12pm and 1pm.

Dickinson Square is involved in the scheme because more than half (58 per cent) who live in the street who responded to a survey last March voted to be included in a proposed parking scheme.

But Karl Deimbacher, who lives in Dickinson Square has accused the survey of being "misleading" and believes the introduction of a parking scheme will make the situation worse for locals.

He said: "It was the third time the council had approached us about a scheme. But the survey was misleading and it didn’t have all of the facts. There was nothing in the survey. People are fed-up of people dumping their vehicles in our road over the weekend. So when the council asked if we wanted a parking scheme, people ticked yes because they thought it might stop that problem.

"But this scheme doesn’t do that. Our issues are at nights and weekends. Perhaps we should have investigated more at the time but we were in a pandemic."

Couple Jeni Swift Gillett & John Grillo, who live in Dickinson Sqaure, have previously spoken to the Observer with concerns about being made to pay to park where they live

The survey was sent to residents, accompanied by a covering letter which gave a link to the council website with further details about the scheme.

But Mr Deimbacher firmly believes more details should have been provided on the survey itself - and it appears people's views on the proposed scheme changed when final proposals were published at the end of 2020.

He continued: "More than half of the residents in Dickinson Square held a Zoom meeting in January this year to talk about the scheme we were now part of. We had people on the call both in favour and against a parking scheme. When presented with all of the facts, everyone was shocked at the level of double yellow lines, the price of the parking permits, the times of operation. All 22 residents were quite surprised and I’d say shocked at what the scheme was going to look like. We all agreed to speak to our local councillors and maybe design a scheme that worked."

Dickinson Square in 2019

But when Dickinsons ward councillors were approached by the chairman of Croxley Green Residents Association chairman Barry Grant, the councillors declined the request to meet.

Cllr Dominic Sokalski said: "A resident demanded the council halt the scheme in Dickinson Square. The formal traffic regulation consultation period had concluded in November, with the legal order sealed, so it was too late for such changes. For those reasons, the meeting did not seem appropriate nor did the request to halt the scheme seem to have much support from residents within Dickinson Square as few emailed us directly."

Dickinson Square in 2019

In total, Mr Deimbacher believes 16 spaces will be lost in total, as a result of new lines being painted near junctions and in other spots. Ward councillors said in a letter to residents "no lawful spaces will be lost".

Mr Deimbacher has called for the scheme to be halted, but said: "If the council is so confident that the will of the people is for this scheme with all of the lines, ask us the question again with all the information presented."

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, lead member for transport & economic development in Three Rivers, said: "Dickinson Square is included because most residents wanted it included. I understand how residents who did not support the proposals are disappointed.

"Nevertheless, the process was democratic and robust, including extra consultations following petitions.

"We have extensively consulted with the public and all through this process ward councillors have actively encouraged residents to engage and wrote directly to them to get in touch if they had concerns."