4. No More Painful Parking Fines?
While we’re in officious-busting mode, Kentishtowner reader Dan Hubert has come up with a way to help make sense of Camden’s (and in fact all London’s) increasingly complex parking rules.
His mobile app Yellow Line Parking – inspired by an unexpectedly harsh fine for wrongly assuming it was OK to stop on a single yellow near the Roundhouse one Sunday – has been picking up downloads and press attention too.
“There are over 50 different controlled parking zones in Camden alone,” he tells us. “Some can be restricted from 8.30am-11pm while only streets away it’s only 9am-11am.”
And so began a labour of love, where Dan spent weekends and evenings digitising and deciphering over 500 pdf maps from boroughs all over the capital. He worked with an NW5-based developer, with the idea that as well as making life infinitely less painful for drivers, the app may also help support local businesses in areas like Kentish Town who have long suspected yellow line confusion as a reason for less trade on the High Street.
Our big question, of course, is how he’s going to keep it all up to date?
“I’ve been to see quite a few councils and they’re all very supportive of the idea and are more than happy to send updates my way,” says Dan. “We can change zones and data in minutes and push the info to each handset at the touch of a button.
I’ve also met the European Head of Parking at London Councils, Nick Lester, who’s really into unifying London. He’s kindly agreed for me to address all 32 Heads of Parking at their quarterly meeting in a few weeks!”
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4 thoughts on “Pinboard: Local art special, plus where is K-Town’s club – and a terrace for The Grafton?”
I have lived on Grafton Road for over 15 years and it fills me with joy to see The Grafton buzzing with people many of whom wear trousers just a liitle too short and facial hair. I am in favour of public use of the terrace as it will offer a marvellous place to people watch and hang out. I can see why the council object to this usage, indeed can you name another pub with a similar terrace that is open to drinkers ? The Carlton further up Grafton Road is now flats and does have a usable terrace, but then again its private not public. The Lock Tavern has a big upstairs terrace but it is “hidden” . So I can see the planners sticking to their guns. That being said I have had tangled with the planning department before and in my experience they do listen. Then again these are the folk responsible for agreeing to that beast of a building being constructed next to KT West Station.
Maybe as a compromise suggest the terrace is open for 15 weeks in the year, or only when its sunny or that it must close at 10.00.
Hi neighbour, thanks for your words of support! We’re hoping our views will be taken on board by planning through the appeal process. We’ve only asked for a license for the area up until 9.30pm as we thought that might minimise any potential disturbance. Great suggestion re. only opening for a certain no of weeks per year. We’d prefer it didn’t come to that but if a further compromise is needed that’s a cracking suggestion.
I completely support this as a new resident of POW road, the Grafton is an absolutely cracking pub with a fantastic atmosphere (and beers to boot). A (well-managed) terrace would add another dimension and much needed open space for the area.
Totally support this too, looking forward to a calm drink on the terrace basking in the sun