Pitshanger Residents Calling for Reversal of New Parking Rules
Petition against 'Stop and Shop+' attracts over 1,400 signature
It is claimed that local businesses have been negatively affected by changes. Picture: PCA
January 15, 2026
The Pitshanger Community Association (PCA) has launched a petition urging Ealing Council to scrap recently introduced parking restrictions on Pitshanger Lane, arguing that the changes have caused confusion, reduced footfall and harmed local businesses.
The petition attracted over 700 signatures within a few hours of launch and is currently over 1,700 having been running for less than a week.
The new rules, part of the council’s borough‑wide Stop and Shop+ scheme, require drivers to register their free 30‑minute stay via phone, app or PayPoint. The PCA says the system has led to “wrongly issued tickets, chaos on side roads” and a sharp drop in visitors to the award‑winning high street.
According to the association, footfall has “almost halved” since the restrictions came into force, pushing already fragile independent shops into further difficulty. They say the scheme is ill‑suited to Pitshanger Lane, which does not have a Tube station and relies heavily on short‑stay car visits from nearby neighbourhoods.
The PCA also raised concerns about accessibility, saying elderly residents and those without smartphones “continually struggle with the new rules” and that some have stopped visiting the Lane altogether.
The group criticised the council for proceeding despite strong opposition during the consultation phase. “A full public consultation on the proposals was rejected solidly by residents but the Council went ahead regardless,” the PCA said. “We demand that the results of the consultation be put into practice and these new restrictions retracted.”
Ealing Council said the changes were designed to support local high streets by ensuring parking spaces turn over regularly and remain available for genuine shoppers.
A council spokesperson said, “We recognise how important Pitshanger Lane is to the local community and to the independent businesses that help make the area unique. Our aim is always to support thriving local high streets while ensuring parking arrangements are fair, consistent, safe and accessible for everyone.”
They added that the Stop and Shop+ scheme offers 30 minutes of free parking, with payment only required for longer stays, and stressed that residents do not need a smartphone to use it. Drivers can register by phone or at a nearby PayPoint store, and several bays on Pitshanger Lane remain free of charge and without time limits.
The council said it had tested the system elsewhere in the borough and would continue monitoring its impact. “Our priority is to keep Pitshanger Lane accessible, safe and attractive for residents, visitors and businesses,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to monitor the impact of the new arrangements, address issues promptly and work closely with the local community to ensure the scheme functions as intended.”
The petition remains open as local traders and residents continue to call for the restrictions to be withdrawn.
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