London council launches crackdown on bad parking

Barking Town Hall, the headquarters of Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council LDRS Nick Clark, LDRS Reporter 1 minute ago COMMENTS A crackdown on bad parking and the introduction of more ‘school streets’ have both been approved by Barking and Dagenham Council leaders.

The council’s new parking strategy includes more CCTV cameras to monitor bad parking and more enforcement action across the borough. It also wants to cut traffic near schools during drop-off and pick-up times.

Senior Labour councillor Syed Ghani, responsible for parking, said the plan is “designed to support safer, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods” in Barking and Dagenham .

The council says population growth and poor health in the borough means it needs to update how it manages parking on its streets.

It says there is increased demand for on-street parking, while too few people walk, cycle or use public transport.

“As the borough has grown, demand for kerbside space has increased significantly,” council papers say.

“Increased residential development, changing housing patterns and population growth have resulted in greater demand for limited parking capacity across residential areas, town centres and local neighbourhoods.”

They add that Barking and Dagenham scores “below the London average” for walking and cycling measures.

The papers say: “Increasing opportunities for active travel and reducing dependency on private vehicle use are therefore important components of improving health outcomes and creating healthier neighbourhoods.”

A new council parking strategy includes expanding its use of CCTV cameras at places such as bus routes, banned turns , yellow box junctions and pedestrian crossings.

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It aims to increase enforcement action at places such as parks and leisure centres, and to “target motorcycle and moped-related contraventions, including inappropriate parking within shopping parades, public spaces and other sensitive locations”.

Enforcement will also support the council to roll out more school streets across the borough.