Calls Grow for Crackdown on Illegal Parking in West Ealing
Council accused of ignoring resident group's safety concerns
Cars were observed parked illegally for hours on Broadway and Uxbridge Road. Picture: WEN
August 15, 2024
Illegal parking of cars in West Ealing on Broadway and Uxbridge Road has been prevalent for years but calls are growing to put a stop to it.
Local residents’ group West Ealing Neighbours (WEN) first asked Ealing Council to prosecute vehicle owners who park illegally in central West Ealing over six months ago.
The scale of local concern over the issue became apparent this February when WEN ran a public meeting at the Drayton Court Hotel attended by 150 residents. Local councillors in attendance were strongly urged to ensure council officers made increased efforts to clear Broadway and Uxbridge Roadof illegally parked cars which block the passage of buses, cyclists and private vehicle drivers. This causes swerving to avoid the cars, delays and increased pollution with idling engines.
However, WEN says that no action was taken on the issue and it decided to continue to press the council. As part of its case, it delivered timed photos from early June to Ealing Council Parking Services showing cars illegally parked for hours. It says that these provide proof that the council is consistently failing to enforce these car parking regulations.
However, the group says that the council has been unhelpful in its response despite the provision of this evidence.
‘We can’t have one law for a few people and a different law for everyone else’ said Kevin Raftery of WEN. ‘I’ve never seen the cycle lane clear during business hours’, he added.
The cycle lane in West Ealing is almost constantly blocked by parked vehicles. Picture: WEN
An Ealing Council spokesperson said, “Greener Ealing, the council’s wholly owned environmental services team, took over parking enforcement across the borough in April this year.
“Work is ongoing to ensure that the new enforcement officers know exactly where and when most parking contraventions take place so that penalty charge notices, more commonly known as parking tickets, can be issued quickly to help make the roads and pavements safer.
“Greener Ealing is aware of the concerns about dangerous and illegal parking in west Ealing. Enforcement officers have been closely monitoring the areas and where they have seen parking contraventions they have taken the necessary enforcement action. Be warned car owners parking in this area, west Ealing continues to be an enforcement watch spot!
“Residents and businesses should report parking contraventions as soon as they see them by contacting the council’s parking services on the automated telephone service 020 8825 6677, option 1, from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and 020 8825 5000 at all other times. Parking contraventions can also be made using the parking option in the LoveCleanStreets app.”
West Ealing Neighbours (WEN) was formed in 2005 with the aim of making West Ealing a better place for residents, businesses and visitors.
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