London Mayor Sadiq Khan has given his approval to Greenwich Council’s proposal to introduce parking charges to streets in Eltham, despite objections from Bexley Council. The controlled parking zone (CPZ) will impose charges of up to £4 per day on sections of Rochester Way and Welling Way, which are near the borough’s border with Bexley.
Bexley Council had formally objected to the scheme, expressing concerns that it would divert more parking and traffic to the areas surrounding Falconwood station. During a council meeting, Conservative Councillor Andy Curtois voiced his frustration, stating that the residents of Falconwood were already being negatively affected by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and now were facing additional difficulties with Greenwich residents parking on their roads. He directed his frustration towards the Mayor and Greenwich Council for their alleged disregard for Bexley’s residents.
Conservative Councillor Richard Diment, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, echoed Councillor Curtois’ sentiments, expressing anger and frustration over the scheme. Councillor Diment argued that the proposal would have no impact on Greenwich residents since there were no residential homes along the affected streets.
Despite the objections, the Mayor supported the implementation of the parking charges. The specific timeline for the scheme’s roll-out remains uncertain, but the decision has received mixed reactions from the communities involved.