Banning parking in a narrow alley would lead to complaints from residents and businesses, the deputy leader of Redbridge council has said.

Ian Bond, who represents Roding Ward, has been in discussion with council officers over the issue of unrestricted parking in Station Passage, South Woodford.

The owners of Switch Bar in George Lane have called for parking to be banned in the alley after a fire engine was unable to pass parked vehicles to put out a small blaze last month.

After meeting with officers, Cllr Bond and fellow Liberal Democrats Gwyneth Deakins and Felicity Banks a consultation on the possibility of introducing permit parking in Station Passage has now been launched.

But that has failed to satisfy the owners of Switch, who say permit parking would not solve access problems.

Cllr Bond said: “There clearly is a problem with commuters parking in Station Passage, it’s just a question of what the answer is.

“If you ban parking down there completely then you could end up with businesses and residents complaining that they have nowhere to park.

“I have already been approached by another business who say they rely on being able to park there.”

Officers are proposing to introduce permit restrictions in Station Passage between 8.30am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday.