Parking permits office relocates to Hammersmith
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
29/02/2008
The council’s Fulham parking office is relocating as part of a new ‘one-stop shop’ for residents.
Staff in the parking permits office will move to the Residents Direct Centre at Hammersmith Town Hall Extension. The Fulham office will close on 5 May.
Residents will be able to get or renew parking permits by visiting the Hammersmith office. However the number of face-to-face enquiries has reduced following the introduction of an on-line system for renewals and other measures, like temporary permits for new residents.
The web-based scheme is already popular with residents who have described it as 'perfect and fast', 'the simplest, quickest way ever to renew any service' and 'a brilliant idea that saves time and is very easy to do'.
One such resident is William Stevenson who says: "I think it is a vast improvement. Anything that replaces having to queue up with a million forms of documentation is fantastic."
In a move that will save taxpayers around £8 million over three years, the Residents Direct project will bring together the key areas of council tax, housing and council tax benefits, parking permits, cashier services, blue badges, freedom passes and education benefits.
Councillor Paul Bristow, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, says: “In the 21st century, people can easily go online to carry out their everyday activities, like renewing a parking permit. Keeping two offices open doesn't make sense as more and more people are using the Internet and we are providing services to match this.
"Having the offices under one roof will also mean savings in the region of £8 million by 2011/12.”
From Monday 14 April to Saturday 3 May, the Fulham permit office will only open on Monday and Friday, 8.00am to 4.45pm, and Saturday, 9.30am to 4.00pm.
When the Residents Direct Centre at Hammersmith opens in April, it will be open for personal visits Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, with late night opening on Thursdays until 8.00pm. The centre is open to telephone callers from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
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