Fair Parking Newham

Why we oppose a free first permit and free parking

Newham Council is planning to make residents' first parking permit free, and to introduce one hour of free parking anywhere in the borough, every day. It sounds like a giveaway, but we think it's a bad idea for three reasons:

1. 1It's unfair. Around half of Newham households have no car at all. Free parking is a subsidy paid for by everyone that mostly benefits better-off, car-owning residents.
2. 2It will increase traffic and pollution. Free parking encourages more car ownership and more driving, adding to congestion and making air quality and road danger worse in a borough that already breaches WHO air pollution guidelines everywhere.
3. 3It will make parking harder to find. More cars competing for the same kerb space means residents who need to park, including disabled residents and carers, will struggle more, not less. See the evidence →

If the Council wants to support low-income residents, there are more targeted ways of doing that than a universal subsidy for car owners, most of whom are not the neediest people in the borough.

See the full impact breakdown →See where the law stands →