Residents have blamed “aggressive enforcement,” faulty machines and a lack of public consultation for parking fines in Woodford, Snaresbrook and Wanstead.

A new parking payment scheme was introduced on George Lane, South Woodford in February 2018.

Critics of the scheme say Redbridge Council introduced it as a “money spinner.”

The council admitted the three new parking meters on George Lane have experienced “intermittent faults.”

Whilst the machines were broken, drivers were told they could pay for parking over the phone, using the cashless ‘Ringo’ scheme, or find another machine.

Resident Anton Venter said his wife received a parking fine on George Lane whilst she looked for a working machine.

He said: “[Those who] refuse to pass their personal data and sensitive bank details to the phone operator [are] facing fines.

“Even if Ringo was used, the number needs be dialled, and a first-time user registration will take up to five minutes minimum.

“It may take longer for motorists to [find] alternative machines because of faulty machines in the street.”

Mr Venter added that these delays are giving enforcement officers time to issue fines.

The council also introduced a new pay and display scheme on Wanstead High Street in February 2018.

Wanstead Village Action Team said this scheme was pushed through by the council despite objections from 1,100 residents and a variety of local businesses.

Cllr Michelle Dunn said: “This scheme has ignored the wishes of our residents and businesses. We were promised a Gold Standard consultation by Labour, but all we got was gold standard contempt.

“Labour told residents that if they don’t want a scheme – it wouldn’t be forced on them, but that wasn’t true on the High Street.”

According to the Action Team, it is estimated that the council have spent £94,000 on parking schemes in Wanstead in the last year.

The Action Team claims many of these new schemes have proved unsuccessful and have since been “scaled back or scrapped…wasting tens of thousands of pounds.”

Similarly, the council’s handling of the residents’ parking scheme on Eagle Lane in Snaresbrook is facing criticism.

The council have introduced a cashless payment system for parking along the street, whilst simultaneously charging residents for parking permits between the hours of 8:30am and 6:30pm.

Residents argue annexing the road for residents only parking is pointless when visitors have the option to pay for parking and take up residents’ spaces.

A spokesman for the council said: “We have completed recent checks on the pay and display machines in George Lane and the one that’s faulty has been reported for immediate repair.  If there is a fault, residents and visitors can use the machines nearby or the cashless RingGo payment system which is convenient and has the highest level of data handling security in the country.

“If residents believe they have been issued a parking ticket whilst searching for a working machine they should contact the council and we will investigate.

“We carried out a full consultation with local residents and businesses and the majority of respondents told us that they supported pay & display on Wanstead High Street.

“Permit parking has only been introduced into those residential roads where there is evidence of support. The operational times reflect the most commonly indicated preference by respondents to that consultation.  Short-stay parking has been provided to assist visitors to the area.  In Eagle Lane, permit holders can also park in the cashless parking bay (it is a shared use bay).”