Council accused of 'going into the commuter parking business'

A proposal by Ealing Council to introduce shared use parking bays to the Friars Green CPZ (Zone MM) in Acton has led to a furious response from some local residents. The change would allow non-residents to park in the area all day for £3.

The Council are planning to redesignate a number of spaces so that they can be used by anyone with a RingGo parking account rather than just holders of residents' permits. The changes will also affect zones in the Chiswick and Southall areas.

The new bays would be by ‘flank walls only' according to notices placed by the Council rather than outside residents' homes. It is understood that parking could be purchased on the same basis as visitors' parking. The Council notices posted around the area say that parking will be available at the same rates as for parking for residents' visitors. It is possible to pre-book parking spaces for more than one day on RingGo and extend a parking session remotely. Free stop and shop spaces will also be scrapped as part of the plan.

The roads that weill be affected are, Brougham Road, Creffield Road, Creswick Road, Emanuel Avenue, Essex Road, Faraday Road, Friars Gardens, Friary Road, Friars Way, Grafton Road, Grasmere Avenue, Hereford Road, Julian Avenue, Lynton Road, Messaline Avenue, Pierrepoint Road, Shalimar Gardens, Shalimar Road, St Dunstan’s Avenue, St Dunstan’s Gardens and Westbourne Avenue. They are all in walking distance of Acton Mainline station which is due to be serviced by the new Elizabeth line (Crossrail) which will substantially enhance transport links from the area.

One local resident contacted us to say, “This is purely and simply the Council going into the commuter parking business to raise revenue at the expense of residents. The Friars Green area will be the cheapest place to leave your car all day near Crossrail as you commute to your job in the City. Holiday makers will also leap at the chance to dump their car near a handy interchange for Heathrow.

Councillor Gary Malcolm who represents Southfield ward for the Liberal Democrats said, "The introduction of residents' permits was to stop commuters clogging up the streets. This could encourage commuters to seek out cheap parking options travelling from Windsor, Slough or Oxford to save huge amounts of money over train season tickets once this loophole is announced!"

Each road is affected differently with varying amounts of space being proposed for the shared parking.

We have asked Ealing Council for an explanation of the rationale behind the proposal.

The deadline for submitting comments on this scheme is 11 June. You should email them to highwayServices@ealing.gov.uk quoting ORDER 4114 include your postal address.

May 29, 2018