Sutton Council will trial technology to address the increased use of Beddington Park’s Church Road entrance.
As part of the South London Partnership’s InnOvaTe Project, the Council will be working with Bayline, an Ethos initiative, to install sensors to provide a better insight into the number of vehicles using the main car parks and at what times.
Beddington Park has seen a significant increase in use during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many residents relied on the borough’s green spaces for daily exercise, to get fresh air or to improve their mental wellbeing.
Sutton’s open spaces are one of the many reasons people choose to live, work and raise a family in the borough and Beddington Park is recognised as one of the best in the country after winning a prestigious Green Flag.
The main car park has a single road in and out, which can often become congested and gridlocked with drivers not able to exit as new cars enter the park. This has impacted the surrounding residents, with police being involved due to cases of illegal parking and complaints from the local community.
Should the trial go well, the Council will then assess whether this information can be displayed on a live board, informing visitors arriving at the park that the car parks are full or encouraging use of alternative parking locations to help prevent any gridlock occurring (such as the Beddington East, Beddington West and Beddington South car parks).
The sensors will be piloted for one year and will be in three locations by the Church Road entrance:
Car park behind the cottages
Car park by the Cricket Club (only opened when the club has activities)
Car park by The Pavillion Cafe
