Labour, Restore and Green councillors all challenged the plans at a meeting earlier this week, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to introduce new parking permit zones in Barking and Dagenham could hit poorer families hardest, councillors from all parties have warned.
Barking and Dagenham Council leaders are set to consider extending the zones later this year. If approved, the entire borough could be covered by parking permit restrictions by 2028.
Labour, Restore and Green councillors all challenged the plans at a meeting earlier this week – with one warning the extra expense could help give residents “a mental breakdown”.
However, council highways officers said new permit zones would improve air quality, while ensuring residents can park near their homes.
Some 75% of the borough is already covered by controlled parking zones (CPZs), where permits are required during certain times.
The council is now considering new zones around Chadwell Heath, William Bellamy Primary School, east Dagenham, Leys Estate, Marks Gate Estate, Eastbrook and Rush Green, Barking Riverside and Scrattons Farm.
Daniel Connolly, the town hall’s parking design manager, said the new zones would control parking amid an increase in cars in the borough, at a meeting to scrutinise the proposals on Wednesday (9th).
Connolly said: “We know that our roads were built many, many years ago and they’re not fit for purpose in terms of the amount of vehicles we’ve got on them, so we need to look to control that.
“We’re looking to get people out of their vehicles. If they do need a vehicle, looking to be a healthier type of vehicle – a low-emitting, low-band, lower-emission vehicle like an electric vehicle for example.”
Connolly said parking permits would also help to address health issues in Barking and Dagenham, such as high rates of obesity and low life expectancy “by reducing car ownership, improving air quality and making it more accessible for people to go out and walk”.
However, councillors at the meeting said many people depend on their cars.
Labour councillor Ingrid Robinson said: “Having a car isn’t always just a luxury – it’s an essential thing.
“Our residents are really trying, and we can’t put lots of pressure on them. They’re having to pay C02, they’re having to pay for two or three more cars. You’re kind of giving them a mental breakdown so we need to stop.”
Reform UK opposition leader Ben Suter said permits could be more expensive for people on lower incomes who can’t afford cars emitting lower amounts of C02, which attract higher-costing permits.
He said: “If you have a car which emits more emissions, you’re going to be charged more.
“These are the people who are most likely going to be going around in a car they’ve had for ten or 15 years.”
Green group leader Moin Quadri asked whether the council had considered “that we need more public transport” before introducing more restrictions on car use.
Cllr Quadri also suggested making households’ first parking permit free, as the Labour-led council in Newham is attempting to do. Green councillors in Newham are against this.
Connolly said that lower-emitting vehicles were becoming less expensive. He said the council had begun issuing more permits for lower-emitting vehicles, suggesting an increase in ownership.
He said: “More and more people are able to access electric vehicles – there are electric vehicles available at a lower price point.”
Head of parking Tina Brooks said that the council couldn’t introduce free permits as it would then be unable to pay for its parking enforcement.
The council will have to run public consultations on the new zones before deciding whether to implement them.
Labour council leaders are set to decide whether to do this at a cabinet meeting in November.
