Hounslow council introduces new parking restrictions in Chiswick for Sunday’s. The West London Council is ready to introduce Sunday parking restrictions for the first time in the centre of Chiswick, a new year’s gift to the gut for local business. The impact to the Chiswick Sunday market is expected to be significant with local residents branding this as a ‘money-making scheme’.
Chiswick Controlled Parking Zone
The council is using a controlled review into the Chiswick Controlled Parking Zone which showed a majority of respondents to a survey favoured restrictions operating every day of the week, the council is bringing forward the measure.
In order to validate the new parking restrictions in Chiswick, the council only sent letters to 524 properties in the CPZ (The area has over 5000 homes) and received 56 responses, a reply rate of just 11%. The majority of the homes were retirement housing units in the area which have on-site parking provision. Ultimately, the review of Chiswick high street parking restrictions will impact local business, something the council has chosen to ignore.
Chiswick high street parking restrictions impacting local business
The Chiswick sunday market is a local attraction that attracts people from west London to the area and is a huge boost for the local economy. Parking restrictions will inevitably impact the footfall and hurt our bottom line.
Flowers shop – Chiswick High Street
This CPZ includes part of Arnott Close, Belmont Terrace, Belmont Road, Bridge Street, Castle Place, Chardin Road, Chiswick Common Road, Elliott Road, Essex Road, Fishers Lane, Mills Row and Windmill Road
Opponents believe that, if the new restrictions are implemented it will inevitably lead to ‘CPZ Creep’ in which displacement will mean that all zones will need to introduce Sunday parking restrictions all over the borough.
Parking restrictions in Chiswick
The parking restrictions in Chiswick CPZ zone were introduced in March 2011 with the intention of prioritising parking for local residents and for visitors to nearby businesses. Currently parking restrictions in the zone between Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green Terrace and Belmont Road operate from 9am – 7pm Monday to Saturday.
A report by Hounslow council officers into the result of a review and consultation exercise, which took place in July and August, identified increased parking pressure in the area during the evenings and at the times of the Sunday markets. But have failed to acknowledge the amount of extra bays used by delivery drivers.
A local business survey by WTX News showed that Sunday is the highest turnover day for the local businesses and it usually averages losses sustained during the week when parking is limited and footfall is low. The local business attribute this extra business is due to the free parking which attracts visitors from the surrounding area.
The impact on local businesses with the new new parking restrictions in Chiswick, at a time of cost of living crisis are being branded as a money-making and not in the interest of local communities.
Sunday parking restrictions are unavoidable, with the drive for squeezing more revenue form residents. But the council should not be making such a major change without a thorough review from all stakeholders in the area.