Croydon Council are proposing amendments to vehicle emissions based charges for pay-by-phone on-street parking, permit parking, off-street parking and standardisation of the no-return period.

There is currently a Consultation for you to comment on the changes proposed.

The proposals are:

• to replace the existing parking places that offer the first 30-minutes of parking for free with two-hour maximum stay emissions-based pay-by-phone  parking places with a one-hour free parking period.
• to replace existing free 30-minute, 40-minute, one-hour and two-hour maximum stay parking places with two-hour maximum stay emissions-based pay-by-phone parking places with a one-hour free parking period.
• to standardise the no return period at all payment parking places to two hours from the time a vehicle leaves the parking place.
• to amend emissions-based charges for off-street parking places within the London Borough of Croydon.
• to withdraw the quarterly (3-month) business permit.

NOTE: All parking places on and off-street are to become pay-by-phone only. Drivers will be required to sign up with the pay-by-phone provider to access emission-discounted charges. Those drivers not using the pay-by-phone facility will be charged at the higher band rates.

For more details on the proposed changes to on and off-street parking charges and changes to parking permits, click here.

To see more detail on the recommendations, click here.

You can also find full details of the proposals and comment on them at Public Consultation (traffweb.app).

Copies of the statutory consultation documents are also available to view from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday at the enquiry counter in Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA.

Please ensure all comments are submitted by 11.59pm, 9 May 2024.

In support of the council’s ambitions for supporting the economic vibrancy of town centres and high streets, Croydon Council are trialling plans to improve parking availability in Lower Addiscombe Road A222.

The council is pleased to offer limited stay free parking within our town centres and high streets, as it is vital to encourage the community to support local businesses. Limited short-stay parking encourages regular turnover, by making spaces close to shops available for short durations suitable for shopping.

The existing ‘pay and display’ machines are reaching the end of their operation as they rely upon 3G connectivity, which is currently being shut down by network providers. The trial will enable the council to understand the impact of moving to phone payment and explore ways of addressing any issues that users experience during the trials.

From Tuesday 2 January 2024, the council will be changing how the free 60-minute parking sessions operate for a trial period of three weeks. This will involve switching off the ‘pay and display’ machines, as they will not be dispensing tickets.

Instead, motorists will need to use the RingGo cashless parking app on their smartphones, call RingGo on 0203 046 0010 to obtain a free session or alternatively visit a local PayPoint location. The council does not apply surcharges to use RingGo, but do check your settings. Please note that there is a no return period of two hours after leaving a location.

Can I have more than one parking session on the same day?
Yes. Drivers will be able to obtain free parking sessions in the same parking location but only after a period of two hours after leaving. You will also be able to park for free in other district centre areas in the borough on the same day.

Where can I obtain the RingGo app?
The RingGo app can be downloaded on your Android or Apple mobile phone on-line by visiting https://ringgo.co.uk

What if I don’t have a smart phone? Can I book a parking session using an old-style mobile phone or landline?
Parking sessions can be booked with an old-style mobile phone by phoning 020 3046 0010 and confirming your details and the RingGo location code, which are indicated on signs. It is easier to register your details on-line first at myRingGo.co.uk/register to ensure that the parking session goes smoothly. Parking sessions can also be booked on a landline but there would be no guarantee that there is a parking space available when arriving in a street or car park.

Can I book a parking session without using RingGo?
Yes. An alternative is to use PayPoint. PayPoint locations are at some shops as listed below. You can ask at the shop to book a free parking session on RingGo at the shops below by asking an assistant – please ensure you have details of the registration number of your vehicle and the RingGo location code as shown on signs and the ticket machines:

PayPoint locations can be found at the following shops:

• ‘Addiscombe Express Ltd’,
• ‘Nisa Local’
• ‘Harrisons Newsagent’.

The council welcomes any comments on this trial, via online survey, available at www.croydon.gov.uk/AddiscombeCPSurvey.

The survey will close at 11:59pm on Monday 22 January 2024.

If you have any questions, or require further information, please contact parking@croydon.gov.uk or by phone on 020 8726 6000.

TfL’s Local Communities and Partnerships Team advise that there will be a partial closure of the trams network that will be happening towards the end of October.

TfL are undertaking essential works to replace a section of drainage on the eastern end of our tram network and no trams will run east from East Croydon from 21 October to 29 October 2023. Normal service will resume on Monday 30 October.

This will affect all services from East Croydon to Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and New Addington.

Customers are encouraged to use replacement buses to continue their journeys.

This work forms part of our ongoing modernisation and maintenance programme to help improve the reliability of the tram service for years to come. We will replace 722 meters of drainage by opening a trench between Sandilands Junction and Bingham Road, removing old pipework and manholes and replacing them with brand new assets.

Some local road and footpath closures will be in place between the East Croydon and Addiscombe tram stops and residents will be advised by letter in advance of these closures. Information on the wider trams closure will be communicated to customers via posters on trams and at tram stops from early October until the end of the closure.

Customers are advised to plan ahead and to use real-time travel tools including Journey Planner and TfL Go.

More information about London Trams can be found on the TfL website.

A new consultation launched on Friday September 22 to gather feedback on the council’s proposals for a new parking strategy.

The strategy sets out the priorities the council will focus on to make it fairer for all road users and make the most out of road space in Croydon. Further, it aims to reduce congestion and manage parking demand while supporting local businesses and residents.

Some highlights include the introduction of virtual permits to improve service efficiency, and better parking controls in areas with high demand for on-street parking.

The Draft Croydon Parking Policy seeks to:

• Support and enhance the ways in which people will be able to visit local businesses, high streets and town centres in Croydon
• Make parking more accessible to people with disabilities
• Introduce virtual parking permits for residents
• Improve intelligence-led enforcement procedures to target illegally parked vehicles and blue badge fraud, targeting known hot spot areas and events
• Make service improvements to areas known for high rates of parking non-compliance
• Modernise and simplify parking controls and zones to:

1. 1. make it easier to understand tariff rates, parking availability and locations
   2. enable future pricing structures to be fairer and competitive compared to neighbouring boroughs and shopping districts

Any major changes to parking arrangements in Croydon would be subject to their own individual consultations before coming into effect.

The strategy will be developed using feedback from the community and local businesses, as well as parking data, and the council needs to hear from residents before it is finalised.

Residents, businesses, and visitors to the borough can find more information about the priorities and have their say on the council website.

Ten public drop-in sessions have been arranged where local residents and businesses are invited to provide feedback in person, and have questions answered by the team.

Drop-in sessions have been scheduled across the borough on the following dates:

• Central Croydon Library: 27 September, 10:00am – 12:30pm
• South Norwood Library: 28 September, 12:00pm – 2:30pm
• Purley Library: 28 September, 4:30pm – 7:00pm
• Thornton Health Library: 10 October, 4:30pm – 7:00pm
• South Norwood Library: 11 October, 4:30pm – 7:00pm
• Coulsdon Library: 12 October, 4:30pm – 7:00pm
• Purley Library: 18 October, 12:00pm – 2:30pm
• Central Croydon Library: 18 October, 4:30pm – 7:00pm
• Coulsdon Library: 24 October, 10:00am – 12:30pm
• Thornton Heath Library: 24 October, 4:30pm – 7:00pm

The online questionnaire will be open until 11:59pm, 31 October 2023.

Anyone requiring the information and survey in a different format, or for help completing the survey, can email parking.design@croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8726 6000.