Below is the text of a letter a put together for the Watford Observer that was prompted by discussions around a proposed CPZ on the Cassiobury Estate in Watford. I’ve reproduced it here unedited:

cpzI have been engaging in dialogue over the current set of proposal options for parking on the Cassiobury Estate. I have submitted my consultation return voting for the option that fits my own personal situation best but I wanted to draw you and your readers to what I feel is a far wider issue, the effect of CPZs on the future of Watford Town.

My concern with the Cassiobury scheme and other schemes that have been implemented across the borough is the apparent lack of alternative planning. What I mean by this is that if this scheme goes ahead and parking is restricted to prevent commuters, shoppers, football fans and visitors to the park from parking in the estate then the question has to be asked – where will these people park?

A trivial example is, occasionally we get together with some friends to do the pub quiz at the Southern Cross pub in Langley Road. On a fine night we would walk and that’s fine as we’re close enough to walk. When it’s raining though it’s a lot more difficult. The pub doesn’t have enough parking on its premises, St. Thomas’ opposite doesn’t open up its car park for probably understandable reasons and all the roads surrounding the pub have permit only parking. By the time I’m able to find somewhere to park and then walked back to the pub we may as well have walked and if it’s raining we’re as likely to say that we’ll not bother.

Now apply the above trivial example to the wider use of the town and its facilities and in the particular case in point, Cassiobury Park. The people that come into the town for work, shopping and pleasure represent the economic lifeblood of the town. Without them the town would be much sadder place to be. The town centre car parks alone cannot accommodate all the people that come into Watford so there has to be provision somewhere. If the council are going to continue pursuing CPZs for residents then provision must be made to provide parking to the thousands who come to Watford but there appears to be no evidence to support the notion that this is going on.

Take the Cassiobury CPZ proposal, it’s planned operating time is 10:30-14:30 weekdays (possibly Saturday). In the school holidays this will be in operation. Where will parents wanting to enjoy Cassiobury Park with their children park? The car park off Swiss Avenue will not be able to cope with the additional load placed on it and the proposed 94 short term and 74 long term pay and display bays across the estate (some of which I suspect will be too far from the park to be convenient). Indeed it could turn out to be the case that on hot sunny days in the school holidays when the park gets to its busiest you could end up seeing severe congestion around Swiss Avenue and Cassiobury Park Avenue as people flock to the currently free car park, find it’s full and then turn around to seek alternative places to park.

Cassiobury Park is a place that Watford should be rightly proud and should want every visitor to Watford to experience it, but with such proposals this will become harder. The potential impact of this is that people could stay away, preferring parks in other places where access to parking is easier. Similarly with shoppers, if they can’t find readily accessible parking they could take their business elsewhere thus reducing revenue for Watford’s businesses. Watford would then be in danger of becoming what I’ve heard termed a ‘bedroom community’, one in which people only reside in Watford to sleep; they take their work, shopping and leisure activities elsewhere.

I have lived in Watford for the last 17 years, having moved here to work from graduating. When we first arrived we didn’t much like the town but in the years since we’ve been here we’ve seen huge improvements in the range of facilities provided, the leisure options
available in terms of bars, restaurants, shopping, leisure centres, play centres, etc., and we love the fact that it is only 20 minutes from the centre of London yet is right on the doorstep of the Chiltern countryside. We have grown very much in love with the town and are proud to be bringing our children up here. I fear though that, whilst it may not seem significant looking at a single proposal, a path is being taken that could end up blighting the town as people look for alternative places to shop and spend their leisure time, which in turn will drive away businesses and therefore workers.

Rather than reflexively putting in yet another CPZ that may quite possibly be followed by another in Nascot Wood, perhaps simply enforcing existing parking regulations, such as parking across dropped kerbs and dangerously at junctions would be sufficient to overcome most problems whilst keeping the streets free for people who park safely and responsibly.

Whatever the outcome of the current consultation regarding Cassiobury Estate parking I would strongly urge the council to step back and look at the wider provision for access to and parking in the town and its facilities and seek a plan that allows easy and convenient access to parking for visitors from out of town and residents alike that will enable Watford to continue as a lively, thriving town full of opportunities.