All change when tennis fans flock to the home of lawn tennis
Changes to parking rules across the Southfields area will come into effect next week to coincide with the start of the Wimbledon tennis championships.
For the duration of the tournament, which lasts from Monday, June 23 to Sunday, July 6, parking controls will be in operation from 8.30am to 8.30pm every day in order to protect residents from an influx of cars driven by tennis fans.
All the area’s existing parking zones will be combined to form one single tennis event zone (EZ). This zone will also include some streets in the area that do not have existing parking controls.
Motorists who have an existing permit for the S1, S2, S3, S5 and Q1 parking zones will be entitled to park in the EZ zone.
All households within the zone have also been issued with two free temporary permits which can be used by their visitors. This is because pay and display machines throughout the area, apart from those serving the shops in Replingham Road, will be switched off to ensure that tennis fans do not occupy residents’ parking spaces.
These temporary permits should also be used by residents who normally park in streets within the EZ that are not normally subject to parking controls.
People using these permits should place them on the dashboard so the face of the permit can be clearly seen. They do not need to be displayed if the vehicle already displays a valid resident, business, resident visitor permit or a disabled person's blue badge.
These free EZ temporary visitor permits remain the property of Wandsworth Council and are not for resale. Anyone caught attempting to sell these permits will face legal action.
All roads within the EZ will display signs informing residents and visitors of the changes. These signs will be prominently displayed on lighting columns and signposts in each road. Signs will be placed on the perimeter of the zone to warn motorists that they are entering a restricted parking area.
Residents are also being advised that some parking bays in the event zone, especially along Wimbledon Park Road, Augustus Road, Victoria Drive, Bathgate Road, Queensmere Road and Princes Way will be suspended for the duration of the tournament at the request of the police. All cars will be essentially banned from parking along these roads.
Some other roads will also see parking bays temporarily removed and an extension to the hours of the waiting restrictions.
Motorists are also being advised that the parking bays and yellow lines in Revelstoke Road between Wimbledon Park and the junction with Heythorp Street will be in operation continuously throughout the tournament. This means that parking on these yellow lines is not permitted at any time of the day or night and vehicles parked within the bays must be displaying a valid permit.
Any vehicle parked incorrectly over the Wimbledon tennis fortnight is liable to receive a parking ticket and may be towed away.
Different rules apply for parking on housing estates in the area. The housing department provides its tenants and leaseholders with permits and visitor permits which are unaffected by the changes to the rules on parking on the public highway. Anyone who unlawfully parks their car on an estate without displaying a valid permit will be clamped and could be towed away.
For more information about parking arrangements in Southfields during the Wimbledon fortnight, please contact the parking service on (020) 8871 6660 and choose option three from the automated service so that your call is directed to the right department.
June 16, 2014
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