WALTHAMSTOW: Call to end business parking permit policy (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: Call to end business parking permit policy

10:33am Tuesday 3rd February 2009 in

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FRUSTRATED residents are calling for an end to a council policy which allows workers to park cheaply in their streets - meaning the people who live there struggle to find a space.

The council currently allows people who work at a business in a controlled parking zone (CPZ), to apply for business parking permits, even if their vehicle is privately-owned and is not used for work purposes.

Large numbers of workers are leaving their cars in residential streets all day every day, meaning residents, who are supposed to benefit from CPZs, find it difficult to park.

The policy particularly affects those residents who live in CPZs which contain large numbers of shops and other businesses, including the market east zone, which includes part of Walthamstow High Street and Selborne Walk Shopping.

Now the Priory Avenue Residents' Association (PARA), is to organise a petition calling for the council to change its policy.

Terry Walters, PARA committee member, said: "These commuters are positively encouraged by the council to commute by car.

"They are paying the ridiculously small average daily parking fee of around £1.50 per working day (£390 a year) to park in residential roads around the town centre.

"Our residents' visitors have to pay £4.20 to park in the same roads.

"Our resident mothers with small children are often forced to park their vehicles a couple of turnings away before struggling to cope with toddlers, pushchairs or prams and shopping, just to get home."

The association believes permits should only be issued to businesses for use on business-owned pool cars, not private vehicles.

It also calls on the council to consider its own parking plan, which prioritises local residents above commuters.

Cllr Bob Belam, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "While residential parking is obviously important we also have to strike a balance and make sure that local business people and their staff are able to park near to where they work."

For more information about the petition email prioryavenue@hotmail.co.uk