Battle Begins Over 'Crazy' Ealing Parking Plans

Northfield traders say business will be decimated if short stay bays are removed

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Ealing Council's draft transport proposals aimed at reducing traffic in the borough have been described as ' crazy' and a significant threat for small businesses.

Cutting stop and shop bays and having all-day CPZs are part of the local implentation plan (LIP) to tie-in with the London Mayor's transport strategy. The main objectives of the LIP are to encourage an increase in walking, cycling and use of public transport, reduce the environmental footprint of local transport and improve road safety.

Ealing Council say those objectives are underpinned by their own guiding principle of ''aiming to improve residents’ health and well-being – through better air quality, safer travel and supporting the local economy.''

However, shopkeeper Evelyn O' Flaherty, owner of gift shop 'Mooch' on Northfield Avenue and Pitshanger Lane said they would have the opposite effect. She says, ''As a business owner and resident for over 30 years I know this will have a significant detrimental effect on small business as we rely on local and non local customers to be able to pop in. Also, we visit my my 89-year-old mother-in-law every day to make her a cuppa and have a chat, with an all day CPZ we wouldn't be able to do this and it would further isolate the elderly in our community. I find it incredulous that our local council want to introduce this with no consultation whatsoever.''

David Millican, Conservative Councillor for Northfield Ward, said, ''The Labour Council have come up with the crazy idea to stop 30 or 60 minute Stop & Shop parking.  We all know that shops, in our local shopping parades, rely on passing trade. So, to stop people popping in will really hit our local shops and businesses.  They are part of our community and deserve our support. But the council have come up with not one but two crazy ideas. All-day CPZs might work in some areas but not to be introduced everywhere.  Residents want long-term parkers and commuters stopped from clogging up their residential roads. Many zones are for just an hour morning and afternoon. This allows flexibility and stops those long-term and commuters parking. This must be stopped too. As the Opposition we’re doing all we can to stop these two crazy ideas.''

A council spokesperson said: '' The council is committed to helping local businesses thrive wherever possible and we appreciate that each local shopping area has different circumstances. For this reason we will be consulting with local residents and businesses for this trial. We will assess how bays are currently being used and will consider people’s opinions carefully with no changes being introduced without consultation. 

 “We want to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport as much as possible for short trips to local shops. This is in line with our own ongoing commitments to improve air quality and reduce emissions and the Mayor of London's transport plan.

 “All-day controlled parking zones (CPZs) are used to secure valuable parking spaces for local resident and business permit holders while alleviating pressure from commuter parking. The shift to all-day parking will be phased in over a period of time across the borough and will enable more effective enforcement and consistency across Ealing.”

 

12 March 2019 ( updated)

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