Ealing Council is currently consulting residents in West Ealing about whether they would like a CPZ to cover their road.

You will only be consulted if your road falls within the proposed CPZ, this is shown on the map in the consultation document (pdf).

The consultation period began on 29 October 2004 and closes on 12 November 2004. If you have not received a consultation document please contact Simone Keleher on (020) 8825 6390.

A few things to think about from someone who has lived in 2 different CPZs in Ealing:

"Our area suffered from commuter parking (near a tube line) and people leaving their cars while they went on holiday, plus some school run parking, so most people voted for controls between 9-10 and 3-4 only. This worked effectively for many people living in the area, who can now park near their houses, though it is less popular with the school runners! Another big benefit was the addition of double yellow lines on corners. These had previously been very dangerous for the many children and parents with buggies as pedestrians, and had made visibility on turning corners poor for drivers - West Ealing certainly suffers from this problem currently. Now crossing the road is much safer. You need to make sure your corner shops and services get sufficient stop and shop parking, as this remains a problem.

Now I live in an area with controls between 10 - 7.30 pm, and until 4 on Saturday; the zone used to experience student parking (TVU), commuter and some shopper parking. Controls over this length of time are a complete pain in the neck and unneccessarily long. Yes, it does make sure that no extra cars are in the area, but calling in briefly on friends and family becomes a lot more hassle. Not only do visitors and workers have to pay even to drop into your house for five minutes at all times, but wardens will penalise people arriving at your house at 5 to 4 on a Saturday. Because the wardens are around for so much of the day, there's also significantly increased chance of receiving an unfair fine; one neighbour was fined because his number plate reference on his permit was obscured by magpie droppings (he was told he should be out checking his windscreen throughout the day)!

My advice - it can have advantages, so go for it if you want to, but opt for the minimal time cover you are allowed and fight for stop and shop."

There are lots of you out there with experience of CPZs. Help your West Ealing neighbours out with your advice on the forum.