At the beginning of February 2025, we were contacted by concerned residents about signs that had appeared on lampposts at Ace Parade, Hook, Chessington. The signs alerted customers that Transport for London (TfL) were applying to install an additional two Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging points at the Parade.
The existing EV bay is little used, being vacant for lengthy periods and taking up valuable parking spaces. This is a busy and thriving shopping parade, well-used by the local community, especially for patients visiting the Ace Pharmacy. We need the maximum number of parking bays possible, open to all visitors.
We spoke to residents and businesses at Ace Parade. They were worried the loss of parking would have a negative impact on customers’ access to the Parade and potential loss of business through drop in footfall. Most of the businesses on the Parade are small, independents.
Petition
CDRA set up a petition to demonstrate to TfL that this proposal is not thought through, would have a negative impact on the local economy and viability of local businesses and could endanger the livelihoods of currently thriving businesses. We contacted TfL, our local MP and London Assembly Member.
Chaos commences
Despite our best efforts and those of residents and businesses and our local councillors, unfortunately our voices – as the local community – were not heard. By 17th February, the works to install the EV charging points were underway, and the chaos commenced.
Parking and loading bays suspended, incorrect signage installed and parts of the slip road closed, causing chaos for vehicles and frustration to residents and the businesses. Pedestrian access has been severely affected, with barriers and groundworks’ debris everywhere. Parking tickets have been wrongly issued, causing stress to residents and customers. The changing closures and Elmcroft Drive access from the slip road and Hook Road also closed, has and continues to cause confusion and chaos, creating serious safety issues for both pedestrians and vehicles.
On 27th February we heard that, due to some technical issues during the exploratory works, there will be just one further EV charging point installed. By 13th March, the technical issues have been resolved and the original two additional EV charging points will be installed.
On 21st March the slip road was still coned off. The only available parking spaces were the loading bay spaces. The penalty sign had been covered. CDRA has had no response directly from Tfl, but we understood at the time they were considering cancelling the fines for anyone who has already received a penalty notice.
If you have received a parking fine, please contact Kishan at Ace Pharmacy. Kishan is co-ordinating a response to TfL.
Unwavering support
CDRA has been relentless in pushing TfL for improvements to communication about the haphazard ongoing works to support customers and business at Ace Parade and help ensure this valuable community amenity survives. Apart from Councillor Lorraine Dunstone who has been proactive, as far as we are aware no other councillors or officers from Kingston, our MP Sir Ed Davey or Gareth Roberts, our London Assembly Member, have visited the Parade to speak directly to customers, residents and businesses about the issues.
At the South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee meeting on 25th March, CDRA raised the issue and thanked Councillor Lorraine Dunstone for her support. Councillor Lorraine Dunstone recognised that it had been a frustrating time for businesses, district nurses, patients, customers and residents. She told the meeting that Elmcroft Drive would open by the end of that week. She reassured residents that she and other councillors and officers continued to put pressure on TfL. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Andreas Kirsch, said he would be inviting the TfL Commissioner to Kingston to discuss improvements to future consultations and for confirmation that there would be no further loss of parking bays in Chessington. Councillor Kirsch has requested data on the use of the EV charging points.
Meeting with Councillor Nardelli
We were pleased when Councillor Nardelli, portfolio holder for sustainable transport for Kingston Council, agreed to meet with CDRA. At the meeting with Councillor Nardelli on 27th March was Colin Punch, chair of CDRA, Rob Robb, executive committee member of CDRA, and Kishan Patel, owner of the Ace Pharmacy. The key issue discussed was the total lack of consultation and communication by TfL particularly following the concerns raised by residents and businesses about lack of access to the Parade during the works. Mr Patel asked for a reduction in business rates for the period. Councillor Nardelli said that she would work with other Council officers and councillors to set up a meeting with TfL to discuss the issues. She has subsequently informed Mr Patel that a business rate reduction would not be possible.
We asked both Sir Ed Davey MP and London Assembly member for South West London, Councillor Gareth Roberts, to provide a comment for us to publish. We have not had a response from Sir Ed Davey. Here’s the comment from Councillor Roberts:
“As is so often the case with developments such as these, communication with those directly impacted could have been better and I hope TfL will take the feedback from this experience on board, and I’ve reached out directly to the owners of the pharmacy to see if there’s any angle to pursue the issue of the loss of income arising from the works. On the subject of the chargers themselves, I think it important to see what their impact will actually be rather than speculating about their potential harms. I have had experience of infrastructure of various types, including pocket parks, EV chargers, cycle facilities and more besides and the concerns raised at the beginning about impact on businesses didn’t come to fruition; indeed, in many cases the infrastructure has been viewed as a positive addition to local shopping parades and local businesses resist any attempts to have them changed or removed, often led by those who were most vehemently opposed to their installation.”