Hackney council admits its no-car policy is somewhat broken and is being repaired

DEMOCRACY, FIASCO OR FLOP? Your decide. Hackney council has admitted to Loving Dalston that it’s no-car-space planning policy has been abused.

The admission supports a claim by local resident Pamela Gordon that the council has sold permits to supposedly car-free developments.

Demirci©DA0215: Feryal Demirci Hackney cllr London @ a Clissold Park, Stoke Newington Play Streets function 270215 © DavidAltheer@gmail.com — Flying the flag for ecology: Feryal Demirci

It has not upheld the ban on cars at the new flats in Dalston Lane such as Dalston Works at Martel Place. To oppose this, Gordon set up an online petition.

Dalstoner Sophie Edwards commented on line: “I’m a nearby resident… This isn’t nimbyism — just that this unintended consequence of the continued sale of permits is damaging for others. Needs resolution.”

Neighbourhoods councillor Feryal Demirci told Loving Dalston that “a small number of records” of permits being [unjustifiably] obtained was found in the town hall’s permit-issuing system.

However, she said, “This issue has now been resolved” and “no further permits will be sold or renewed”.

She gave no indication what she considered a “small number” but added: “We are working to improve our procedures to strengthen our systems in future.”

Is such vagueness reassuring? Further, the implied suggestion that it would take quite a time to make such a seemingly fundamental correction to the policy — which prevents residents of more than 10,000 car-free properties from buying parking permits — did not stop Demirci from praising it.

MartelSky: sky vanishes over Dalston London E8 as more skyscrapers arise, these at CLT buildings Martel Pl London E8 251116 © DavidAltheer [at] gmail.com — As the flats rose up, light was vanishing from Ritson Road. So are parking spaces

She said: “Hackney council takes its discharge of car-free planning restrictions very seriously, as it plays an important role in helping us deliver more housing for local residents, without placing undue parking pressure on neighbouring streets.”

That is, however, the very problem highlighted by protesters, who say that the permits they acquired legally were difficult to use because spaces in their streets were being taken by cars from nearby new flats.

David Altheer 160418

* Backstory: World’s most important buildings; What Hackney collects from parking; Sly eye on Hackney hotspots; Hackney bumps up parking charges; Hack ney council’s Rich List

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