Forum Topic

Bill's Putney High Street flouts pollution code.

I was disappointed to see another large truck blocking half of PHS at 10:30 this morning while making a delivery to Bill's.The truck was facing the wrong way forcing severe delays the length of PHS. This is a fairly frequent event at Bill's and it appears they think they are above the law. I spoke to a Manager who said it was her first day which again indicates senior management are not taking their social responsibilites very seriously.And to add insult to injury they have a very large A-board blocking the pavement as well.Bills -good neighbours???

Timothy Horgan ● 2590d12 Comments

"I spoke to a Manager who said it was her first day which again indicates senior management are not taking their social responsibilites very seriously."I don't understand what you mean.  How do you suggest that they receive supplies?  Very early in the morning is sometimes specified but abhorred by those trying to sleep nearby.  People in cars have to learn to be patient.  There are too many using cars when we need to be using other forms of transport. We all need to change our habits. In Hammersmith I believe that the idea is to have a hub outside the busiest main streets so that smaller electric vehicles can deliver supplies to shops.https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2019/09/hf-council-launches-pollution-free-delivery-servicehttps://cyclingindustry.news/electric-cargo-bikes-rolled-out-for-new-hammersmith-zero-emission-delivery-service/https://www.greenhoushybridelectric.co.uk/news/2019/february/dpd-opens-all-electric-delivery-hub-in-central-london/

Philippa Bond ● 2590d

Side roads and a sack truck and parking around a corner is the simple response to that problem. But no, easier to inconvenience people and park right outside for the convenience of the delivery people. See it all the time with all types of deliveries, park in the middle of the street rather than find a side street. Laziness and business before people.

Freddie Francis ● 2590d

I thought there was a 7 till 7 restriction on delivery lorries in PHS.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2590d

So did I Jonathan.  No traffic wardens about when the delivery was taking place?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2590d

I would have expected that a new manager would be informed of delivery restrictions as part of induction/handover. Failure to do this indicates sloppy, uncaring senior management who care little for Putney residents."Wandsworth Council has banned HGVs and vans from unloading on the High Street in Putney between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday". Traders on PHS expect us to support them but some mouth platitudes about being socially responsible while showing little consideration for the young, the elderly, parents by obstructing the footpaths and the street.At 10:30 yesterday morning  (Wed. 9 Oct) Bill's was a blatant example of this money-grabbing indifference - they had blocked one complete lane of PHS and their large A-board protruded to block at least 1/3 of the pavement. And I have noticed that the traffic wardens seem to spend very little time on PHS but are more visible on the side streets.

Timothy Horgan ● 2589d

Everybody is cutting costs or trying to to keep their businesses going.  I don't suppose there is a driver's mate anymore to help.  What help is the Council giving the traders to keep them on PHS?  Is there somewhere they can park around the corner to unload?  Maybe it is a one-off and it was delayed - like the occasional late flight into LHR?  Is there a PHS Traders' Association working with the Council to keep PHS alive and pollution and CO2 down? Everybody needs to rethink their travel arrangements.  We've got too used to the personal convenience of the car and it isn't good for us or the environment.  We need to look at best practices and solutions from wherever we can find them here or abroad.

Philippa Bond ● 2589d

We all complain that the High Street is turning into a wasteland of empty shops and we blame the wicked greedy landlords etc etc. 
Yet we feel entitled to make it as difficult and expensive as possible for a business to make a living on the High Street.  We are the ones mouthing platitudes, not them.
The High Street is dying, and we can carry on kicking them to death because "money-grabbing indifference"??
Yep, let's all shop at Amazon then.

Rose Compton ● 2589d

Well said Rose.

Karen Taylor ● 2589d

It is those few shopkeepers who break the law who make it difficult for us to shop on PHS. Pollution levels have declined since the introduction of restrictions on daytime deliveries. Children are still dying in London  because of air pollution and every shopkeeper should respect the law and be good neighbours and good citizens.I hope Bill's take action to respect the law and the citizens of Putney and I wish them well in their business endeavours. But I am certain the liquor licensing  authorities would not be impressed at photographic evidence on constant flouting of the law. Having a license to trade carries significant responsibilities. These are not platitudes, I assure you. http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=issuepollution039.htm

Timothy Horgan ● 2588d

Rose- I have just noticed dear Bill's had  some coverage in the Evening Standard about the vexed matter of the "Service Charge" and it also mentions that the company is based "offshore".So thats alright then!https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/now-bill-s-restaurants-take-service-charge-chain-is-accused-after-standard-s-c-te-revelations-a2920506.html#targetText=Bill's%2C%20which%20has%2019%20restaurants,is%20held%20by%20the%20company.

Timothy Horgan ● 2588d

How strange that the balance of 'public opinion' can swing to such an extent in a short period of time. A couple of years ago, there were several threads on this topic in this forum, and the overwhelming majority of contributors were robustly in favour of a strict enforcement of the parking rules - mainly on environmental grounds.Incidentally, PHS is what used to be called a 'Trunk Road', and therefore policing is in the hands of the Metropolitan Police. Enforcement in the side roads is in the hands of an entirely different organisation, answerable to the Borough. Just look at the different uniforms next time you have the opportunity.

James Dixon ● 2588d

It's not alright of course but is there anywhere around the corner where deliveries can be offloaded?  Many many businesses are based offshore...  more than you would imagine.  Many who won't want details of their holdings to be divulged by impending new EU Regulations...

Philippa Bond ● 2585d