Chelmsford Labour Party is calling on Greater Anglia Railway and National Car Parks to sort out shambolic signs following fundamental changes in parking regulations at Chelmsford Railway station which have adversely affected local rail users since April when Greater Anglia devolved station parking to NCP.

Notices have changed the previous drop-off point at the front of the station into four bays, where only disabled blue-badge holders registered with Goparking are allowed.  Yet signs on the station bridge entrance point to 20 minute parking.  These changes have caused confusion and fines, leading one group of incensed Chelmsfordians to call upon trading standards and local government to sort it out.

Confused? You will be!

When asked, two different Greater Anglia customer service staff categorically confirmed that parking would be allowed at the front of the station for a maximum of 20 minutes, despite clear notices to the contrary. “There is also car parking behind the station,” he added. “and a 5 minute drop off point”. This five minute layby only takes two cars and at the time, was completely blocked by a white transit van for more than an hour.

A new station drop off and pick up point with 10 clearly demarcated spaces for station users is now available for 20 minutes, adjacent to the Townfield multi storey car park beyond the exit ramp of the station. Two small signs, one outside the rear station entrance and one at the top of the exit ramp are the only indication of this facility.  Not only are they easy to miss, the unfamiliar could also miss the station parking altogether, which is beyond the multi storey long stay entrance.

That’s the good news……

Despite being a camera-monitored car park,  Chelmsford Labour Party’s photographic evidence proves every single one of the10 allocated drop off spaces was in use by vehicles for more than an hour with cars routinely parking in these bays on a daily basis.  This blocks the only legal drop off/pick up points available to rail users.

Changing Signals

Greater Anglia and NCP need to sort out their signs and their signals to let people know about these changes through a more wide-ranging advertising campaign.  Legal car parking must made available to Chelmsfordians who want to be able to drop off or pick up without incurring fines. We should be encouraging local people to use the railways, not condoning others who break the rules.