Free parking could be scrapped in Waltham Forest

-Credit: (Image: Getty)
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Free daytime parking in Waltham Forest may be cancelled by the council.

At present, drivers can park in bays for 15 minutes at no cost and parking is also free between 1pm and 2pm. However, under the proposed new system, drivers would have to pay to park for any duration between 8am and 6.30pm, seven days a week. It is not known how much the council would charge.

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Waltham Forest Council will be holding a public consultation on its plans in early October, cabinet members confirmed on Tuesday, September 10.

The council has said that a recent review of its parking scheme found it had a detrimental impact on shoppers and businesses. Highways assistant director Anthony Hall said drivers were 'hogging bays for extended periods' and 'hindering traffic flow as drivers circle looking for spaces'.

In a report published this week, he said: "[The proposed changes] will ensure regular turnover of vehicles throughout the day and should benefit local businesses by providing potential customers with more options to park and shop during the day, including peak hours."

Waltham Forest residents have been benefitting from free parking in the borough -Credit:Getty
Waltham Forest residents have been benefitting from free parking in the borough -Credit:Getty

The current restrictions were also found to 'promote car usage' and not 'align with [Waltham Forest] being an active travel borough'. Londoners are generally encouraged to use public transport such as buses or the Underground rather than drive their own cars.

Air pollution, a 'major public health issue', has prompted Waltham Forest Council to review its approach to local travel, with a shift towards sustainable transport as the goal, according to the highways boss. It is not clear how much extra revenue the change could bring in and whether this is a motive for the change.

Clyde Loakes, the co-deputy leader of Waltham Forest, remarked on the borough's parking policy being an 'anomaly' and observed: "It's become very apparent that we are significantly out of kilter with not only our neighbouring boroughs, but the vast majority of London."

Drivers must pay to park in Haringey from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Enfield enforces similar rules and Newham ditched free parking last August.

With the consultation giving green light for the proposed changes, residents will have the chance to submit feedback and express any concerns they might have. The council will consider these inputs before final decisions are made, ensuring that community opinions are taken onboard.

The whole scheme could potentially cost about £150,000 if implemented.