Author: Wansteadium

Wansteadium reader ‘Mystery Crew’ writes:

I am a long term resident in the WB parking zone [which includes Cambridge Pk Rd, Chaucer Rd, Dangan Rd, Gordon Rd and Spratt Hall Rd] that voted against the parking restrictions in their current format but agreed with many of my neighbours that some type of restrictions was required to deter commuters – just less draconian measures than those implemented by the Council.

However in a lot of the various debates on this issue there has been little mention of how the parking issue has escalated over the years. There are a number of key events that happened, after each event the parking problems in the WB zone deteriorated. These events are primarily the introduction of the WA Controlled Parking Zone around Wanstead Tube station, the introduction of single yellow lines and free bays on the other side of the high street, the reduction of parking spaces on New Wanstead for safety and traffic calming measures, the inclusion of WB streets on a “where to park in London” website and – for those of us who remember that far back – Cambridge Park being rebuilt with no parking at all.

Consequently the only free unrestricted parking anywhere near the High Street fell on the WB zone. I do hope that something is done to ensure there is more parking for shoppers etc. available close to the high street but focusing exclusively on the WB zone feels a tad mean-spirited when WB zone was the last to fall to the temptation of parking restrictions. Any review of the parking pressures should look at Wanstead as a whole and not piecemeal in the way the council has done in the past.

For more on the parking review in Wanstead, see this story: Parking around Wanstead: The pressure builds

You can also join the discussion forum at Wanstead Talk specifically on parking, here.

The opponents of the increased restrictions on parking on streets around Wanstead High Street have started mobilising their campaign ahead of a review of the schemes which is due next month.

At a council meeting in Wanstead earlier this week, business owners and opponents of the restrictions lobbied Redbridge councillors. The campaigners who last year collected more than 5,000 signatures against proposed pay and display machines have begun campaigning again.

Residents’ only parking was introduced for a 12-month period last year on several roads in central Wanstead, including Spratt Hall Road, Dangan Road, Addison Road and others. The introduction came after residents showed that websites were advising commuters that they could easily park on the streets during the day for easy access to the Central Line. As a result it became impossible for many residents to park near their homes. Councillors say they had to respond to the residents’ concerns.

The restrictions had their desired effect – one resident of Spratt Hall Road said approvingly that there were so few cars parked there during the day that it was like the aftermath of a nuclear war. But casual shoppers, shopkeepers, local business and parents dropping children at nurseries and schools were not so impressed, saying it made central Wanstead like a no-go zone. As Wansteadium noted earlier this year, the residents’ only parking was extended to an area outside Christ Church where there were not actually any residents.

Wansteadium reader Diana Watson said there was “vociferous opposition” at the Area 1 committee meeting held on Monday this week.  She said the overwhelming suggestion of people in attendance was the reintroduction of a one  or two-hour parking ban each morning to exclude commuters but allow “the good people of Wanstead to go about their business and avail themselves of the activities and services in the community”.

Campaigner Michael Powis has now contacted supporters to encourage them to contact the council ahead of next month’s review. He says: “These were popular places for people to stop off for an hour or two and park to visit the shops, cafes, doctors and voluntary community activities etc. etc. Surrounding roads, where the one hour ban has worked for many, many years, have now experienced displaced parking, further restricting usage of spaces.” He says the restrictions create an atmosphere “which says KEEP OUT to the visitors that help support our High Street, which residents alone cannot sustain”.

Residents of the streets in question, who according to surveys support the measures, are not likely to be happy with the “one hour ban” proposal since without some greater refinement it would it impossible for them to leave their cars outside their own homes during the day. At an area two committee earlier this year one resident suggested that the residents parking system be retained, but be restricted in its hours of operation to 0930-1030 each weekday. This would, he said, keep commuters out, allow residents to park, but also allow community use during the day.

The campaign is likely to heat up further during the next few weeks, but the council and its officials find themselves in a tricky position where they will have to find a balance between the interests of residents and the wider community.