The Elizabeth Line has been dubbed a major success by some (Picture: PA)
It feels like it was just yesterday when thousands of people queued up in the rain for the opening of the Elizabeth Line.
London mayor Sadiq Khan showed a sigh of relief as he got on the first train from Paddington on May 24, and the £20 billion investment has been dubbed a huge success.
Though the new line is though to have reduced journey times and created further capacity, some Londoners do not have kind words to say about it.
People living near a south-east London station say its arrival has led to a parking situation they dubbed ‘unbearable’.
Residents of Priory Gardens estate in Abbey Wood say they can no longer park on their own streets due to commuters taking up spaces.
Nicky Evans told BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service parking in the area had ‘never ever been an issue’, but the problem had been getting ‘progressively worse’.
Having lived on the estate for 20 years, she now cannot drive her kids to school without losing her parking space.
The mum stressed the ‘awful’ situation meant people visiting vulnerable residents often could not park.
‘We have got someone who has carers coming in who cannot park here. Things like that just are not thought about,’ Ms Evans said.
She and her partner now plan to move elsewhere with their four-year-old twins.
‘We wanted to stay in this bit because it is really nice and quiet and it is always been a lovely little hidden bit to live,’ the parent added.
More: Lifestyle
‘Now, I don’t actually want to live down here anymore because it’s just turned into a stressful road to park.’
A spokesperson for Bexley Council said they are planning to introduce restrictions around Abbey Wood station ‘to help relieve the parking pressure that is a direct consequence of the Elizabeth line opening earlier in the year’.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the local authority for a further comment.
Has the Elizabeth Line affected where you live in any way? Get in touch at [email protected]
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
‘I don’t actually want to live down here anymore.’
