New parking bays mean you can be fined—even with a permit

Dear Ed,

I WAS told by Tower Hamlets council that I was one of many callers complaining about resident parking bays around Columbia Road in Bethnal Green that are now marked for individual cars.

This has made residents furious, because if you park across one of the new white lines separating each space, you may get a ticket—even if you have a resident parking permit!

The spaces they have marked out are huge and irregular. I estimated in Baxendale Street we have lost 10 or 12 spaces at least in this one turning. We’ve had eight spaces turned into five in another street, 12 into nine and six into four in a third (see picture).

A small car leaves enough room back and front to allow another car to park in the space, under the old scheme without the separation lines.

This new scheme is ridiculous in area where we are about to have another 30 to 40 cars from a new block of flats being built.

Most car-owners in Columbia Road have to park in Baxendale Street on a Sunday because of the flower market, which does seem to bear the brunt as it’s the closet turning. If you’re out on a Saturday night, it’s virtually impossible to find a space when returning.

Cllr Ullah at Tower Hamlets said it could be reviewed in six months, but wouldn’t put the brakes on it now. He had no logical argument for painting the new lines and insisted that because the money had been allocated by councillors it had to be spent!

We are going to start a petition this weekend and would be grateful for any help in reporting this matter.

Nick Fiveash

Quilter Street, Bethnal Green