Talgarth Road parking victory

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
30/05/2008

Campaigners against the scrapping of parking bays along the busy A4 are celebrating a dramatic victory this week.

Following relentless pressure from residents and H&F Council, Transport for London (TfL) has backed down on its plans to delete parking bays, including disabled ones, along the Talgarth Road.

Residents were first angered back in January when TfL used a three-year-old survey to claim they had consulted with local people about the proposals.

Before the about face, TfL had originally argued that the parking bays needed to go as accidents could be caused by cars pulling out into traffic. The plan – which would have displaced seventy cars – was quickly dismissed as TfL’s own data showed no accidents caused by the parking arrangements along this stretch of road in the last three years.

If TfL had got their way, residents would have had to apply for parking permits on already overcrowded side streets. In addition to residents’ parking, the removal of the parking bays would also have had a profound affect on deliveries. A replacement loading bay would have meant that anyone getting a delivery would have needed to pre-arrange a slot and stump up £48 for the privilege. 

Local resident, Jocelyn Jones, said: “There was an overwhelming number of residents opposed to TfL’s plan. One of my neighbours is blind and relies on deliveries. He could not have afforded the £48 every time his shopping was unloaded. There are many families with young children who would not have been able to afford deliveries. 

“We are all delighted that TfL have finally withdrawn their ill-thought out plan. We hope this is the end of it, we don’t want them coming back with the same plan in a few years time.”

In a second ruse to remove the bays, before the u-turn, TfL somewhat bizarrely claimed that the weight of parked cars was having an affect on cellars in the area. But that view doesn’t seem to have prevailed.

Writing to the council, David Baker, TfL’s North Area Road Network Engineer said: “We have carefully considered your letter and objection and have decided not to proceed at this time.”

Councillor Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Environment, led on the protests for the council. He said, “TfL originally tried to ride roughshod over the wishes of local people but we are delighted that they have finally listened to common sense and withdrawn their damaging proposals.

“Removing these parking bays would have made life very difficult for residents, particularly the elderly and disabled, so we pleased that our pressure on them has paid off.”