Bromley South needs drop-off point, as drivers are caught out with £100 fines
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Southeastern Railway has been urged to look into creating a drop-off point outside Bromley South railway station, as drivers are receiving fines for stopping on the road by the station.
The request from members of the Bromley Conservative Group comes as fines of £100 are being issued to drivers parking in the area.
Peter Fortune, MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, said in an open letter to Steve White, managing director of Southeastern, that the access road beside Bromley Police Station had long been inappropriately used by drivers to drop off commuters, but only recently have fines started being issued.
He said the Met Police owns the road and had recently started using cameras to prevent commuters from stopping on the street.
The letter said: “My concern is that traffic will shift elsewhere without a designated drop-off point at the rail station. I am also particularly concerned about these changes’ impact on constituents with disabilities or mobility issues accessing rail services locally.”
Mr Fortune said he noted the fines were being issued to relieve congestion and the obstructions to emergency vehicles requiring the police station but asked the rail operator to consider creating a drop-off point for road users.
Thomas Turrell, Bexley and Bromley member of the London Assembly, also signed the letter, which suggested coming to an agreement with the nearby Waitrose store on Masons Hill.
A Waitrose spokesman said: “Ensuring safe accessibility for everyone, including Waitrose customers, is paramount, and we will continue discussions to find a solution.”
Enforcement signs on the road said fines of £100 would be issued to vehicles parking in the area. Conservative councillor Nicholas Bennett, responsible for transport and road safety at Bromley council, said the authority had received complaints about the congestion on the access road for years and that he would like to see a portion of the Waitrose car park at the end of the street being converted into a drop-off point.
He added that he would advise motorists to use the Waitrose car park itself when dropping off commuters, as parking on the site is free of charge for the first 90 minutes. Southeastern Railway has been approached for comment.
A Met Police spokesman said: “The road beside Bromley Police Station is used for access and egress to the Met building and Waitrose. Following operation difficulties due to cars blocking the road, the Met appointed a private company.”
They added: “The company will send enforcement notices to those who stop, drop off, or park on the road. This has been in place since October 15.”
Andrew Wood, from the Network Rail and Southeastern Kent Route Alliance, said: “We are happy to work with local stakeholders to explore potential solutions and funding opportunities. Any change to the public realm and highway would need to have the support of the local authority.”
Pictured top: Warning sign outside Bromley South station says that drivers who stop or park on the road could receive fines of £100 (Picture: LDRS/Joe Coughlan)
(1) Congratulations to the Metropolitan Police, who now have a string of brightly marked empty parking spaces on the south side of the road that never get used.
(2) The road is marked with double yellow lines, not double red lines. That means “waiting” is not allowed, but stopping to drop off and pick up is. Does the Met Police spokesman read a different Highway Code?
(3) There used to be a perfectly good stopping bay in front of the recycling bins on the north side, but this was carefully bollarded up a few years ago. Admittedly cars used to spill out of this and block the rest of the road, but there is clearly space for a small area.
(4) Parking in Waitrose is not “free for 90 minutes” as the councillor states. You have to make a minimum purchase in store.