Forum Topic

Just how dopeyBackward can LBH get?

A letter today informing that all CPZ applications must be online from now on.That's fine if you have a safe private computer. But the mandatory requests for information are of a nature that is not supposed to be copied or transmitted. Lot's of work venues including our own now prevent scanning of documents and emailing or transmitting them.But spare a thought for the great many who do not have internet access and in particular safe internet access. Or cannot use a computer let along a scanner.Nowhere on this latest missive is any sort of information on what to do if you are not internet savvy. ( It is still 40% of over 60s and rises with age as many who are able find eyesight and arthritis and age related ailments hinder easy use of the devices most of us take for granted.Not a telephone number, name or postal address.  Email or web contact only.The advice given out is to go to  or library or get someone else to do it online for you.However that is actually a breach of the data protection act and in most cases such procedures would need proof of power of attorney for matters which handle documents and personal details.This " advice" also completely contradicts all the advice for less able computer users to stay safe.Never ever input personal details,or documents onto a public computer or a shared computer.So for those few why is this council not signed up to the Keep Me Posted initiative to stop this nasty and stressful mentality stressing so many less able people.?

Raymond Havelock ● 2337d5 Comments

It's nasty and discriminatory.Doing stuff online is fine and probably the first choice for most of us.That is until there is a problem and then it takes hours and hours and often days to get a simple matter resolved.But for a great many being frozen out of so much of our society is appalling and pretty rich from local authorities who boast about being inclusive  and there for those of lesser means.They care not a jot about the stress and anxiety caused or the fact that others who try to help end up wasting more and more precious time that could be better spent with those in harder circumstances.

Raymond Havelock ● 2336d

Agree that there should be an alternative to online.  Lots of people can't manage all the tech of copying and attaching documents.Regarding finding things on the website:  I have to say that when someone reported that the "spooky tree" had fallen down and hadn't found how to report it I had a look online and DID FIND where to report it.  (A big change from looking for the word "pavement" in the past, not finding it and not being directed to Hounslow Highways.)  So something has improved there!

Philippa Bond ● 2336d

The on the other hand we have the faffing around of all large and small organisations having to comply with the GDPR - which this process somewhat makes a mockery of. This really is discriminatory, but 'it's online' seems to be Hounslow's answer to everything, but then who among us hasn't got all day, every day to scan their God awful website in the hopes you might actually find what the hell you are looking for?

Vanessa Smith ● 2336d

No thought to the process just ALL ON LINE. They could have consulted with Lithuania which is the most connected country in Europe if not the world. We used to hear about service. We this isnt service is it? As for putting your details on a public computer WELL?

Nicholas Beard ● 2336d

I agree that one should at least be able to go to an office in person, even if it meant traipsing to Park Royal, to produce documents and pay for the parking permit then and there.I managed to renew my parking permit but only with considerable difficulty - I downloaded the agreements for my Council Tax and Voter Registration records to be accessed from the ?Council? website (can't remember)and was able to copy and paste something from DVLA to show that I had paid the road tax on the vehicle for which I was requesting a permit and attached all three documents to my application. My application was successful but I have to say that it took me a good couple of hours to work it all out and I found it stressful and am already not looking forward to next year' renewal. I think the process would be beyond many people.

Anne England ● 2337d