Residents Of Apartment Block In Grove Park Seek Parking Permits

As controlled parking for part of Riverside moves a step closer

Residents who live in flats in Sutton Court would be disadvantaged by the planned CPZ for part of Grove Park if they are not allowed to apply for parking permits, a Chiswick Area Forum (CAF) was told last week.

The meeting heard that there are not sufficient spaces within the apartment complex which is run by a private company and consequently car owners have to use nearby streets for parking. However, the introduction of controlled parking would mean they have nowhere to put their cars if, as the Council suggests, they are not eligible to apply for permits.

Hounslow Council is about to commence formal statutory consultation on the CPZ for part of the Riverside ward.

One resident said that if they didn't get permits "we will have to park in Heathrow" as there was just no room in nearby streets which all had controlled parking.

A resident of Compton Crescent said overall the street had voted against the introduction of a CPZ but now with continuous encroaching parking, since Elmwood Avenue had a CPZ, all the traffic had gone to Compton Crescent. What had been an anti-CPZ area was now converted.

A St Mary's Grove resident said that his neighbours didn't understand why it was taking so long, and nearby Fauconberg Road was a bottleneck. He urged the Council to take action as soon as possible.

Councillors agreed that the move towards statutory consultation be approved and voted in favour of a motion by Cllr Paul Lynch that residents in Sutton Court be allowed to apply for parking permits.

Following consultations in Riverside ward, Hounslow Council last year decided to add more streets to the area of controlled parking in Grove Park.

The proposed large developments near Chiswick, including the Lionel Road football stadium in Brentford had led to more residents in Grove Park asking for controlled parking to be considered.

Despite deciding some years ago to reject controlled parking for Grove Park as a whole, it now looks as if much of the area is likely to get a parking scheme over the next few years as more streets 'opt in' because of parking 'creep'. However, there still remain many residents in the area who are opposed to a CPZ and it has proved to be a divisive issue.

March 18, 2017