Hi everyone, new poster here.
Can I check the rules regarding parking in Pearcefield Ave Car Park - am I right in thinking to get the initial two hours free all you do is get a ticket from the machine ?
I don’t have to register my mobile or anything like that ?
I’m using the car park for the first time while I’m at the nearby gym which I’ve just joined and I always fear I’m going to get some outrageous fine ?
Thanks for you help
Yes, thanks for campaigning by the Forest Hill Society I believe.
Well yes… but the machine was knackered for a long time and was unusable. I’m not sure if that is still the case, so perhaps have the PayByPhone app set up ready to make a 0p payment just in case?
Oh, and welcome to the forum!
The machines were both working this morning when impasses (there’s one in the covered parking too), so you should be fine.
Thanks for the replies and advice.
I try to remmebr to keep[ pen and paper in the car to write a note. The important thing is to have a note with the date and time you parked for the two hours to start from. There have also been times when some of the numbers wouldn’t work so I print off a ticket and add mine.
Hi All,
Does anyone know what has happened to all the parking meters in Pearcefield Avenue car park and surrounding roads?
Today has been my first visit to the Pearcefield car park since the car park was repainted a few weeks back and I’ve just noticed that the meters have been removed and replaced with 1 sign for Pay by phone sitting where the free parking meter usually is.
I looked for another meter or sign towards the back of the Sainsburys car park and no other PayByPhone signs could be seen.
Sadly I couldn’t use the car park as the app says I’ve exceeded the stay (despite not using the car park for weeks) and the phone people couldn’t help me.
Is the council making it hard to use another car park and would rather it sit empty? - I say this as myself and about 8 other cars drove off after not being able to pay.
I don’t agree with the app only parking method. I’ve been unable to park in various areas, as it won’t accept through phone and trying to get help to sort in out via phoning is no help. Leaving me unable to park at app only meters. Absolutely ridiculous.
Especially as I have used it before, but can’t now.
This also affects many elderly who don’t necessarily get technology. My mum and dad would have no luck, if they had to try and load app etc to park.
Absolutely agree with you, we need options for everyone for inclusivity.
Even 1 machine would be good as a back up as the app doesn’t always work for those that can use it
I don’t know if it applies to that car park, but the Council are planning to stop cash payments in car parks that includes Girton Road. Apparently you can still pay in cash at some shops but I don’t see how that will stop you getting ticketed invtge time it will take trekking to and from a shop if you have mobility issues. Not all people with mobility issues have a blue badge.
Big list and details on charges in the News Shopper, which I’ll try to add to this post. Apologies in advance if this doesn’t work. It’s across a few pages.
South London Press 250222 Public Notices pages 43,44,45,46 and 47 THREE of THREE.pdf (8.3 MB)
Thanks - looks like they have introduced different prices for vehicles with different emissions. More here: Lewisham Council - Changes to Pay and Display parking
Even if you can use the App you’ll get a shock to you see how much the parking costs now if you stay longer than 2 hours. I went to use the car park this morning, went on the App and it said it was going to cost £14.25 to park for the day, it was £7 last week. Fortunately I got the last space in the station car park, £4 for the day.
I believe the Pearcefield Ave car park partly bases the cost on your emissions. Not sure what’s going to happen when we lose spaces from the station car park and those with mobility issues are going to be expected to pay £14 a day to park if they travel to work by train/overground.
I had a look at that link and it seems like if you had the largest engine size and a non-compliant euro 6 diesel you would pay £5.50 an hour plus the ULEZ to go that side of the South Circular.
I know the aim is the reduce pollution but I think most people with an old car would either try to park on Taymount Rise on the other side or drive the extra mile and a half to the big Sainsburys in Sydenham. It does seem like another council policy that displaces and increases pollution rather than reduces it.
The council needs to become a bit more inventive/creative rather than pushing more pollution displacement policies. Most locals know that this makes local streets very attractive for non-resident parking, why does the council not understand this?
That costing system is so complicated and intentionally obscure to put off any motorists. Shame they public sector doesn’t think about the customer and advise what to do if the app fails and the shop isn’t accessible to buy a ticket.
Overall this will hurt the coffers of the council in the long run as people will spill out into other boroughs to do shopping for larger spends and not pay to park in Lewisham. This means the empty land will be expensive to maintain with little user income.
I usually do a big shop at Sainsburys FH but will now probably go to Sydenham due to free parking or Penge as Bromley council aren’t as horrendous as Lewisham at parking or customer service.
What every other non-FH resident does…clog up our residential streets with their parking!
That Paybyphone thing is infuriating - I registered with an old work phone a while ago and now they won’t let me reregister with my email or set up the app without insisting on sending a text to the old number.
That aside, I noticed the new car park paint job, but I’m particularly impressed they managed to paint around the old silver Mercedes that has been abandoned there for at least a year now. It only has one ticket on it and a note that says ‘it’ll be moved in 2 days’.
Have you deleted the old account with that unusable number? You usually have to do that first before trying again.
It’s an interesting approach - charging for non-emissions of parked vehicles, whereas everything is allowed on the South Circular where actual emissions are being breathed by pedestrians and cyclists.
I don’t think Lewisham Council wants a Forest Hill town centre at all. FOH has to be one of the last centres in London with shops and restaurants etc, that hasn’t had the traffic calmed.
So if I’ve understood this right I can drop my wife outside Sainsbury’s FH then drive round and round the block passing 3 schools, or more depending on the block, chucking out emissions all the way then pick her and the shopping up when she’s finished for about 50p in petrol or I can park in the car park and we can do it together for £14.25. Gosh, that’s a tough choice.
PS It works exactly the same if she drops me off just in case anyone thinks I’m being sexist!!
You can do it together for 2 hours for free before you get charged. 
Do you have to use the app to park up to 2 hrs free?
