Calls for Rerun of Ealing and Acton CPZ Consultation

Opposition says survey skewed to favour approval of extended hours

Limited hours CPZs could see restrictions extended if the proposals are adopted

December 12, 2024

An Ealing Council meeting this Tuesday (10 December) saw both opposition parties raise concerns about the recently concluded consultation into Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) across the borough.

The council is proposing to extend the operating hours in nine zones in Ealing and Acton and institute to new areas where restrictions will apply in Greenford.

A protest was held outside the Town Hall ahead of the meeting by residents against the plans for their area.

Two Liberal Democrat councillors, Connie Hersch and Jonathan Oxley, addressed the meeting on the issues saying that the consultation held by the council was ‘unfair and biased’.

The Conservative opposition group put forward a motion saying, “This Council recognises that current proposals to introduce CPZs in Greenford South and Greenford Town Centre, and to extend CPZ hours of operation in Ealing and Acton, are anti-car measures that discriminate against people who rely on cars like the elderly, families with children and small businesses/traders.” It was defeated.

Two questions on the issue were put to Cllr Paul Driscoll, Cabinet Member for Climate Action. Christina Akubeze asked, “The proposed CPZs in Greenford are unfair, will cause hardship for residents and businesses and are unneeded. There is significant opposition to the proposal in the local community. Will the council reconsider the CPZ proposal, listen to the community and focus on resolving the real causes of congestion?”

Minni Dogra’s question was, “Will the Council treat the CPZ Consultations as a preliminary public engagement exercise and, in the spirit of ‘Your Voice Your Town’, immediately arrange local meetings and workshops for residents to consider any forms or options of parking restrictions which they consider more suitable for their own streets.”

Neither of the questioners appeared to be satisfied with the councillor’s answers.

Cllr Connie Hersch (left) and Cllr Jonathan Oxley raise objects to the proposals at the Ealing Council meeting

The proposals include two new CPZs in Greenford (at Greenford Town and Greenford South) where currently no restrictions exist. Over 100 people have signed a petition against new CPZs in Greenford.

In addition zones where currently parking is restricted to just two or three hours would see parking control operate all day.

In some of the affected zones residents have petitioned the council to have hours extended as they say they are seeing increased parking pressure particularly from commuters using Elizabeth line stations.

The Liberal Democrats say that the blanket increases proposed by the Labour administration is a revenue raising exercise and that limited hours of operation where introduced to tackle commuter parking and had been effective.

The party criticised the structure of the survey which gave no Yes/No option for the proposals and it is being claimed that the questions were skewed in a way that reduced the possibility of the majority view of residents being reflected. The survey options are a choice between restricted hours from 8am-8pm, 8am-6pm or a free text box for respondents to choose other options.

If the proposals are implemented many residents will see increased cost both in terms of their annual permit charge and the number of times they will have to pay for parking for visitors. Opponents have raised concerns that the changes will directly impact elderly residents, those with mobility issues and families with children attending activities or events. The issue of the extra cost and inconvenience to vulnerable residents dependent on carers has also been raised”

Cllr Hersch said, “Ealing Liberal Democrats believe that this consultation is unfair and biased. We would like to see it rerun with all the options fairly laid out including leaving the hours as they are, rather than the skewed preference to extending the hours.

“Ealing Labour are expecting Ealing residents to carry the burden unfairly of revenue raising for the borough – this is underhand but it is what I have come to expect from Ealing Labour”

Her colleague Cllr Oxley added that he believed that there would be a negative impact on local small businesses and would stifle economic growth in the borough.

An Ealing Council spokesperson said, “Ealing Council is proposing to extend the operating time for nine Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in the borough to more effectively prioritise resident parking and has asked residents to provide their comments and opinions on this proposal.

“The council hopes that by extending the CPZ’s operational hours it will help reduce the negative impact of congestion and air pollution by encouraging more people to walk, cycle or use public transport, when possible, when travelling around the borough.

“Thirty per cent of car journeys within the borough cover less than 1.2 miles (2km), and the council is asking the community to work with them to make small changes to their travel choices for short journeys to make the borough a cleaner, greener and healthier place to live.”