18 July 2026
Fair Parking Newham launches
We're a new resident-led campaign opposing Newham Council's proposal for a free first residents' permit and free parking. Here's what we're about and how to get involved.
Read more →Fair Parking Newham
Opposing Newham Council's proposal for a free first residents' permit and free parking
We are campaigning for any decision the Council makes on this policy to be lawful, evidence-based, and properly consulted on. This site sets out the evidence, and organises residents to make sure that happens.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.