A NEW website has gone live so that Greenwich residents can plan for parking this summer during the Olympics.
Parking restrictions are to be put in place on all roads near the Olympic venues, including roads that aren’t subject to parking controls, to prevent spectators from driving to the games.
Residents with existing parking car parking permits will continue to be able to use them, but Greenwich Council’s visitor permits (pictured right) can’t be used between 27th July and 9th September.
New 2012 Games Parking visitors’ permits will have to be applied for instead, with each household being allowed to apply for two.
Any residents who currently parks a car in an area where there is no controlled parking will need to apply for a free parking permit to continue doing so throughout the summer. Paid parking bays will continue as normal throughout the Olympics.
Get more info, and register for permits, by visiting 2012gamesparkingpermits.com
See also: 853 on Olympic parking permits
Fred Palmer says
Wow… Olympic parking permits website location and its relevant all information is available in the post. Thanks!
Alex says
The “Tow Away” signs have just gone up in my road – given the fiasco currently raging with no permits and the wrong permits, where on earth will they be towing all these cars away to? Perhaps a nice day trip to the Yorkshire moors to get your car back wouldn’t be so bad!
gwen hall Reply:
July 21st, 2012 at 10:00 pm
The tow away signs have gone up in our street they have put them very discreetly at the end of the street maybe hoping noone will see them they then have taken down one of the regular parking signs and rehung it upside down i would have thought it better to have put the tow away sign under of above or even over the regular sign so as not to confuse a passing strangers !!
Shirley says
I applied for my Olympic Residents Parking Permit over a week ago and it hasn’t arrived yet. WHAT DO I DO???
Bob Jones says
I just spoke to someone regarding a new car that I have bought and require a permit for the new car. The guy on the phone indicated that the whole scheme in Greenwich has been over subscribed and they are cancelling the already issued permits and sending out new ones.
Jack Cross Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Possibly the scheme has been oversubscribed because the Council sent out far too many permits – we asked for one for ourselves and 2 visitors’ permits and received twice what we had requested. I understand that this has been a very common experience.
I will be amazed if the new permits will be issued in time now, so people who are dependant upon their cars will be penalised through no fault of their own. It’s chaos and the games haven’t even started yet.
Andy says
It is pathetic really. We’ve had “get ahead of the games” rammed down our throats for the past 6 months and then you have to put up with nonsense like this.
I really still have no idea why we need new permits anyway – what’s wrong with using the old ones? How do they stop being valid?
If the passes don’t arrive in time I’m hoping the council will honour the promise of waiving any fines you may get as long as they have your details on file.
Jack Cross Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
“If the passes don’t arrive in time I’m hoping the council will honour the promise of waiving any fines you may get as long as they have your details on file”
Yeah right…….
Andy says
The newly launched web site at http://www.greenwich-2012.com/info/10/travel_and_security/25/parking_during_the_2012_games
has this snippit:
Note: A LOCOG printing error means that some visitor parking permits that state ‘Existing CPZ’ are incorrect. These are being replaced with permits that specify a designated parking zone. Residents should automatically receive a letter and replacement permits from LOCOG by Wednesday, 25 July 2012. If you have an incorrect Games time visitor permit and have not received a replacement by Wednesday, call the LOCOG hotline on 0300 111 2012.
Alex Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 10:27 am
The problem is Andy that we don’t actually know if we have received the wrong permits or not. It’s fairly obvious from all the above posts that it rather depends on who you have on the phone when you call. I am assuming that a few G4S recruits are manning the phones! Nothing against them of course, but unless everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet how are we to know what is the correct information? I am sticking to my original plan – parking permit plus one of the visitors permits for good luck – after it’s all over I shall “fight them on the beaches” or the sand in Whitehall after the beach volley ball.
Jack Cross says
So glad that this has brought some happiness to your rich and varied life. Obviously you are fortunate enough not to be old, ill, disabled or have small children. And clearly you don’t need your car for work.
Enjoy the coffee.
Mr M Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 10:23 am
It’s called a sense of humour. Try getting one, you might like it. 😉
Andy says
I know mine are incorrect because they have the erroneous ‘Existing CPZ’ printed on them.
Or do you mean something else? I know there are others who have more complicated situations.
I agree with you though, I’ll be taking the “belt and braces” approach as well!
Alex Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 10:40 am
My point exactly Andy, I was told 2 weeks ago that my Existing CPZ was fine even though I live in a free parking area! Greenwich Time has just dropped on the mat and it clearly states that we will be getting the correct ones today …. opps was that a pig I just saw flying past my window???? Another little snippet I heard yesterday was that the bus stops outside Blackheath station have been deleted. Trouble is there is no announcement on the bus it just sails past, fine if you don’t mind a bit of a walk but if you are disabled or an OAP then its a bit of a trek back into the village. Hey ho, onwards and upwards.
Andy says
Today’s post has gone, no sign of any permits for me. Just called the 0300 number and woman told me that I should expect them tomorrow (Thursday) instead.
When I asked what to do if they don’t show she said they will have further instructions on what to do tomorrow, i.e they haven’t been told what to tell people yet.
Joy!
Shirley Stedman says
Seen this?
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/human-barricade-sees-off-shooters-hill-clampers-7976237.html
I’ve sent a rocket to various people in Greenwich Council today cc the Chief Exec and the Mayor (for all the good it’ll do) – as I’m still without a permit
Alex says
Hey Shirley, even if you had got it, it would probably have been the wrong one – look on the bright side! My postman has been and gone, no replacement permit, so hopefully tomorrow – with one day to go. I asked my printer today how much he would have charged per page of permits – given the perforations, silver ID, sticky back etc. He said he couldn’t have done it for less than £1 each page, then there is the 3rd class postage (say35p). We know they are not all having to be re-printed but even if its only 10,000 who is paying? LOCOG equals us, Greenwich equals us.
Sam says
Hi Jim if you need park permit i have you need to contact me
07909322641
Alex says
Post just arrived and no permit, however just got this email from the Olympic Parking Team :
Thank you for your email. We are aware that LOCOG have made an error with the first batch of permits that were sent out and have been assured by them that replacement permits will be sent out and the incorrect ones will then become invalid. We are asking residents to put their permit reference number in the windscreen of their car in the meantime and contact us again on Monday 30th July 2012 if the replacement permits still haven’t arrived.
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Yours sincerely
Nadia Ring – The Olympic Parking Team
Royal borough of Greenwich
Sue Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
It’s a bit like making it up as you go along!
Sue says
I spoke with LOCOG today and was updated that permits will arrive by Monday 30th July 2012. Every permit applied for before 23rd July was wrongly printed. Enforcement officers will not issue fines or tow cars away. Instead a warning will be issued! I wasn’t told to put my permit ref number in the windscreen, but this may be a good idea. More hoops to jump through!
The update on the extended deadline of Monday 30th July is to be published in the Greenwich Time. LOCOG expects to update their website too, but could not give a date when the website will be updated.
Sue says
I spoke with LOCOG today and was updated that permits will arrive by Monday 30th July 2012. Every permit applied for before 23rd July was wrongly printed. Enforcement officers will not issue fines or tow cars away. Instead a warning will be issued! I wasn’t told to put my permit ref number in the windscreen, but this may be a good idea. More hoops to jump through!
The update on the extended deadline of Monday 30th July is to be published in the Greenwich Time. LOCOG expects to update their website too, but could not give a date when the website will be updated. They also did not know the name of the Greenwich contact for olympic parking issues
Mr M Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
So they’re fully aware that the next issue of Greenwich Time will be dated 31st July!
You couldn’t make this bollocks up if you tried….
And how are those crappy plastic ‘Tow Away Zone’ signs enforceable?
Sparse detail and just a phone number to call. Private contractors couldn’t get away with it so why should our incompetent council.
Shirley Stedman says
Sue – ‘a warning will be issued’?!
I’m still waiting for my permit too, but the idea they’ll issue ME a warning because of their c*ck up just takes the biscuit. Grrr!
Sue Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Shirley – I spoke with an enforcement officer on the street today and she was unaware that residents without permits would be issued warnings rather than fines. The enforcement officer is under the impression that all residents have incorrectly printed permits and that these are OK to use until the correct ones arrive.
She contacted parking control who issued a phone number for me to ring. It turned out to be council line automated service about olympic parking zones and what to do if your car has been towed away! Totally useless in the current situation.
Let’s hope that parking staff are updated before 27th July and that parking restrictions are relaxed until all the permits have been issued. It is a shambles.
Andy says
Nothing for me today either. Called LOCOG again and was told I’d get them on Saturday.
Apparently the old permit will suffice until then, but I’ve put a note in my car with ref no. and saying still waiting for new one.
Shirley Stedman says
I’m just going to take photos of my car with my residents ID displayed (as per their advice) in the window each day til the permits arrive.
It’s pathetic – you feel like you have to guard your car and go into battle with Wardens, because of someone elses mess up.
I emailed the complaints section of London2012 yesterday. Initially I sent a stroppy email to the Council and they pointed me in the direction of London 2012.
Andy says
I had a chat with a parking attendant just now. He said they are all being updated daily with what to do.
They know the permits are incorrect but are being told that the old ones are valid until they know new ones have been distributed.
He said the Warnings will be there as a reminder to put your new permit in as soon as you get them. They know not everyone will receive them all at the same time.
So at least one of the ground troops knows the situation – he was quite a pleasant chap actually!
Alex says
Saturday morning, post has arrived, but still no replacement permits. A car was being towed away yesterday in the next street, hoping it was for no tax rather than no permit! I guess that is the bright side of all of this, given that there will be more wardens on the streets they will being finding more cars that are un-taxed. However I think it more likely that Greenwich will declare a moratorium on the real law breakers and just concentrate on residents, who for no fault of their own, are not showing the correct permits.
Shirley Stedman says
Alex I’m in exactly the same boat! I called their contact centre and they said they had been advised everyone would get them today.
The office that deals with looking into missing permits doesn’t open til Monday and I’m to call back then.
…about to send a rocketing email…
Sue Reply:
July 28th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Hi Shirley, bumped into my local traffic warden again yesterday and she confirmed that parking enforcement officers had been updated on the no permit situation. She said that placing our ref ID on the windscreen is what to do. Wardens will not issue fines when they see the reference number. My traffic warden was very friendly too and actually asked me if my permit had arrived!
My permit is supposed to arrive on Monday 30/07/12. I guess this is unlikely as the updates are to be printed in the next Greenwich Time due out on 31st July.
Once the permits have all been issued/reissued the next stress overload will be to remember to place it on the windscreen. I believe it is unlikely that fines issued to residents who applied for permits, can be enforced due to the incompetence of the whole process.
Andy says
Got mine this morning – although the backup permit has got INVALID written all over it.
I don’t think my neighbours have received theirs though.
I think putting a note in your car saying you still haven’t got it with each day’s date on it would be a good idea.
Alex says
Watching the Industrial Revolution unfold in the opening ceremony last night, I couldn’t help thinking that they should have let the Greenwich residents have a little spot for a Parking Permit Revolution! It’s not too late, we could do a bit in the closing ceremony – marching on LOCOG headquarters (we wouldn’t be able to drive round though ’cause all our cars will have been towed away by then).
Barbara says
Got ours this morning, I didn’t realise ours was wrong! We now have one for each car & two sets of visitors permits.
Shirley Stedman says
Thank God for you guys giving info, it’s keeping me from worrying! If I was waiting for info from LOCOG or Greenwich Council Id have a long wait.
I borrowed a visitors permit from a guy I know around the corner, but then he got ANOTHER letter this morning with different permits in and the letter said the original permits he was sent are now invalid.
He texted me just now to say a car in his street just got ticketed and it was displaying the correct permit!?
Linda L. says
In our road a few people have received the new permits but most of us haven’t – and the next post arrives about 11.30 on Monday after the 8.30 expiry of the faulty ones. The new permits show the correct zone, but across everything is printed a large ‘A 17’, with, apparently, no explanation for what this means in the accompanying letter. Any ideas? We live within Greenwich but on the Lewisham border, and Lewisham has an ‘A’ zone, according to one of the parking maps.
Barbara Reply:
July 28th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
mine has A17 across it & we are in Plumstead!
Alex says
On my travels today I have noticed that there are lots of A 7 and A 3 etc new permits – stick with the origianl plan – leave the “old” invalid permit in your car, with a note of the reference number they gave you when you first reigistered. When the new A.. permit arrives, in time for the winter Olympics, transfer it. We have yet to find out what the A.. areas mean. There has been absolutely no mention of these new A numbers but on Monday I am sure we can find out. All we have to do, in the event of a ticket, is ask the lovely Rob who hosts this site to print off all the posts and fight the buggers in court!!
Peter says
Parking penalty notices can be contested through the London Parking Arbitration Service, which is independent of borough councils and Locog. Its free to lodge an appeal, and the outcome is binding on Councils. Its only worth appealing if you are confident that you are right, because if you don’t pay the penalty quickly it rises from £60 to £120. Over 70% of appeals to the service are successful.
Andy says
Not sure what the A17 etc means, but the zone is actually printed at the bottom albeit in tiny letters!
Shirley says
So… This morning there was a council guy outside our house taking down the Olympic parking restriction sign off the lamp post …I wondered if they’d just given up cos its such a mess. I went out and spoke to the man and it turns out they’ve had the wrong zones on the signs on our road and need to change them.
You know I’m beginning to think we could probably all stop paying our council tax and they’re so disorganised we’d be dead & buried before they realise.
Wondering if my mythical permit will arrive today
Alex says
I have just got my permit – A 17. In tiny tiny print at the bottom it says Zone C. I live near the Standard, if you look at the main map on the LOCOG site I think this is now correct as this zone runs down from here, through Charlton and down to Plumstead
Disgusted says
They don’t seem to have any flexibility regarding issuing these permits.
The house I want a permit for has been in my family for over 50 years. Unfortunately my father, who was living there, died and the house is empty other than me going there time to time to clear it out.
I am in East London now so obviously not a Greenwich resident, however they insist on asking me for proof of residence so they can issue a permit!!! All I have is a copy of a council tax bill, which I still have to pay, which has my home name & address on but also refers to the address in question. I have sent them that & now they still want proof of residence again!!!
I need a permit as I am having various people deal with renovating the house to sell it & they have to park outside the property.
Theyre running this as good as they run the Olympic tickets!!!!!!
Andy says
Do you not still have power / water / gas at the property? Do you have a statement from any of those?
I called Thames water a while back for a statement copy and although the paper version took a couple of weeks to appear they did email me a pdf version the same day I requested it.
Disgusted Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
The only ones I have refer to the address but are all addressed to me at my East London address. They dont show I actually live there which is what they want.
However, I have discussed it all with them further on the phone and I believe its sorted now & I should expect some permits in the next 5 to 7 working days.
Shirley says
Got my permit! Woohoo
Finally can relax!
Linda L. Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
13.00 hours Monday July 30th – still no resident’s permit in today’s post for me!
Anybody else still waiting?
Carol Hayward says
July 30th 15.30
No visitors parking permits for us either. I applied early and phoned to check where they were twoTol all well and permits would come in post. Operator talked me through reapplying and I scanned in document
to prove residence ( been here since 1968!
dean says
I live at woolwich dockyard iv no TRAIN STATION AND NO PARKING PERMITS . . . . . . .
GORN says
I’m baffled by these. I live on an unadopted road near the Standard, and so far have received three different sets of parking permits – two sets from the council and one from the self-appointed residents’ association. No idea what any of them are for.