This Executive Decision meeting was about potential changes to Pay to Park (P2P) restrictions in Waltham Forest, including the removal of free parking periods and the standardisation of enforcement hours. Consultation responses and petitions against the proposals were included in the report pack. The Climate Scrutiny Committee's recommendations for supporting residents with alternative travel options were also included.

Potential changes to Pay to Park (P2P) restrictions

A report included in the meeting pack recommends amending the hours of operation for P2P bays in Waltham Forest to 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and removing the current 1-hour and 15-minute free parking periods.

The report, written by Anthony Hall, Assistant Director for Highways & Parking Services, argues that the free periods actively encourage vehicle usage and that the current P2P model encourages short distance car journeys which are more polluting than longer journeys.

These changes are intended to encourage active travel, reduce congestion and harmful emissions, and align the borough's P2P restrictions more closely with those in other London boroughs.

The report notes that:

The aim of the proposed changes is to support and encourage more active and sustainable travel in the borough thus reducing congestion and harmful emissions. The proposals will also more closely align Waltham Forest with P2P restrictions across the majority of London.

The report pack also includes details of the consultation that was carried out on the proposals, which ran from 7 October to 28 October 2024.

Consultation responses

The report acknowledges that the changes are not popular with residents and businesses.

Of the formal consultation free text comments, 3,669 were negative to the proposals.

The report pack includes a summary of the consultation responses, which found that 88% of respondents strongly disagreed with extending the P2P hours to include Sundays, 80% of respondents strongly disagreed with removing the 1-hour free parking period between 1pm and 2pm, and 89% of respondents strongly disagreed with removing the 15-minute free parking period.

The Consultation Engagement Report also summarises feedback received from the consultation. 1984 comments related to financial burden on businesses and the community and 1495 related to impact on local residents and community life. The report says that the most commonly mentioned concern was the removal of the 15-minute free parking period.

The 15-minute free parking period was the most prominently mentioned measure by the public in the free-text responses.

The report pack also includes a summary of the petitions that were received in response to the consultation, the Equality Impact Assessment and a reference from the Climate Scrutiny Committee, which met on 23 January 2025 to discuss the proposals.

Petitions against the proposals

The Petitions Summary includes 4 petitions with a combined total of 4,761 signatures, objecting to the proposals. One of these, with 4,177 signatories, was titled: I, the undersigned, oppose the plans by Waltham Forest Council to eliminate our 15 minutes free parking and our 1-hour free parking on our high streets between 1pm and 2pm and the plans to extend parking charges from 10am-4pm to 8am-6:30pm.

Another petition, with 505 signatures, was submitted after the consultation had closed. It made the following arguments against the proposals:

1. Impact on Local Businesses
   • Reduced Footfall: Extending parking charges to include Sundays and earlier/later hours would discourage people from visiting local shops, restaurants, and other businesses, especially small businesses that rely on weekend trade or short visits during off-peak hours.
   • Loss of Customer Convenience: The removal of the 15-minute free parking would discourage quick errands, like grabbing a coffee or picking up small items, potentially leading to fewer spontaneous visits.
2. Increased Financial Burden on Residents and Visitors
   • Cost to Residents: Local residents who use Pay to Park bays for short visits (like dropping off or picking up children, shopping, or social calls) will face a significant increase in their costs, especially those who do not have access to driveways or garages.
   • Visitors Deterred: Out-of-town visitors will be discouraged from coming into the borough, particularly on Sundays, when many expect more lenient parking regulations. This would impact local tourism or people visiting family and friends.
3. Negative Impact on Low-Income Individuals
   • Disproportionate Impact on Low-Income Groups: Extending the paid hours and removing the free parking period would disproportionately affect low-income individuals who rely on short, free parking to run essential errands. The additional financial strain would make everyday activities like grocery shopping or doctor’s appointments more difficult.
4. Potential for Increased Traffic and Parking Violations
   • Parking in Residential Areas: If Pay to Park bays are charged more extensively, people will seek out free or less expensive parking in nearby residential areas, leading to congestion and frustration for local residents.
   • Increased Violations: People will choose to risk parking without paying or parking in unauthorised spots, potentially increasing the need for enforcement and placing a strain on local traffic management.
5. Impact on Churchgoers and Community Events
   • Sundays as a Day of Worship and Community: Introducing charges on Sundays would disproportionately affect people attending religious services, community gatherings, or other events traditionally held on Sundays. Some will view this as a move that undermines community life.
   • Burden on Charitable and Social Groups: Community organisations that depend on Sunday traffic (e.g., church events, charity sales) would see a reduction in attendees due to parking costs, negatively impacting their outreach.
6. Environmental Concerns
   • Encouraging Shorter Visits or Car Use Elsewhere: While the intent might be to reduce car usage, some residents or visitors will shorten their trips or avoid the area entirely, opting to drive further to areas with free parking. This would contribute to more driving in the long run, counteracting environmental benefits.
7. Equity and Fairness
   • Removing Free Parking Viewed as Excessive: The removal of the 15-minute free parking option would be seen as penalising people for short, necessary visits (such as picking up prescriptions or dropping off items) and would be viewed as an unreasonable measure that primarily serves to raise revenue rather than improve traffic flow or accessibility.
8. Public Resistance and Sentiment
   • Lack of Public Support: If the community perceives these changes as a money-making strategy rather than a traffic management solution, it would result in public pushback or a decline in the council's trust and approval.
   • Potential Legal Challenges or Campaigns: Residents and business owners may organise against the changes, arguing that they were not consulted properly or that the changes go against community interests.

Equalities Impact Assessment

The Equality Impact Assessment, updated following the consultation, considered the potential impact of the proposed P2P changes on residents with protected characteristics. It concluded that residents with disabilities are not likely to be negatively impacted because Blue Badge holders can park for free in all P2P bays. However, the assessment recognised that older adults may experience a disproportionate impact due to limited income and difficulty using technology to pay for parking. The assessment also considered the impact on religious groups. It says:

Services/Worship: Some faiths may have services or periods of worship that may coincide with the proposed P2P increased hours. Where they may have previously been able to park for free whilst attending their place of worship, they may now need to make payment or have reduced free parking time.

The assessment proposed the following mitigations for these groups:

• Continued availability of the Freedom Pass for over-60s and carers
• Continued provision of 90 hours of free visitor permits for over-60s living in a Controlled Parking Zone
• Acceptance of cash and card payments at Pay and Display machines
• Option to pay for parking via phone call without using an app
• Continued availability of free parking for Blue Badge holders
• Option for Blue Badge holders to apply for a discretionary disabled parking bay close to their property

Climate Scrutiny Committee recommendations

The report pack also includes a Reference from Climate Scrutiny Committee, which considered the proposed P2P changes on 23 January 2025. The Committee heard from residents, business owners, and Councillor Emma Best, Leader of the Conservative Group.

The Committee's report notes that Cllr Best and other speakers raised a number of concerns about the proposals, including the impact on local businesses, the lack of benchmarking with neighbouring boroughs, and the potential for increased traffic and parking violations in residential areas.

The Committee also discussed the need to promote active travel and the potential impact of the proposals on residents with protected characteristics.

The Committee recommended that the executive:

• Ensure that the council encourages take-up of and assists vulnerable residents in applying for blue badges, freedom passes and other concessionary travel entitlements.
• Ensure that services support residents, particularly in the north of the borough, to choose active travel.

The report recommends that the proposed P2P changes be made via an Experimental Traffic Order, which will allow for further review and adjustment based on real-world impacts.