A major public consultation on parking and kerbside space is under way in Newham, with residents, businesses and visitors invited to have their say on how the borough’s streets are used.
Newham Council began the 12-week consultation on September 17. It aims to gather views on how parking, kerbside and street spaces in the borough are currently used — and how they could be better managed in the future.
The findings will help shape a long-term parking and kerbside strategy that supports the local economy, improves accessibility and reflects the needs of the community. The council has billed the exercise as its biggest-ever conversation about parking.
Driven by what residents want
Mayor of Newham Forhad Hussain said: “Local people have told me that they want to discuss parking and kerbside spaces, and how we use our streets, so that we can seek solutions that balances the needs of everyone who uses our roads fairly.
“I was clear in our election winning manifesto that my ambition is to have a parking and kerbside system that supports a vibrant local economy, protects people against rising costs, and enables people to visit their local high street rather than being a barrier.
“That is why we are launching this consultation, so the changes we implement are driven by what the residents and businesses of Newham want to see.”
What the consultation covers
The consultation explores a range of issues, including car ownership, the cost and availability of parking, and future uses for kerbside spaces such as electric vehicle charging, outdoor seating and other community needs.
It also considers how street space is used for walking, cycling, driving and other forms of travel, as well as the challenges people face in their daily journeys.
Cllr Susan Masters, the council’s cabinet member for adults, health and environment, said: “We need to use our street spaces in the right way, as changing demand is competing for finite road space and for that, we need an evidence-based approach and a long-term strategy.”
The consultation will run until December 10, giving residents, businesses and visitors three months to make their voices heard.
The council says the findings will feed directly into a long-term strategy for the borough’s finite street space — one that must balance the needs of everyone who uses Newham’s roads, from drivers and cyclists to pedestrians and local businesses. Residents, businesses and visitors can all take part before the December 10 deadline.
The debate over how London’s streets are used is intensifying across the capital. Newham’s consultation comes as drivers adjust to the recent rise in Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel tolls, while new figures have revealed London’s most-fined roads — with one issuing £4m in penalties in a year.
