Bexley unimpressed with Greenwich’s new parking fees on its border

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Bexley councillors have claimed neighbouring Greenwich has ‘disregarded’ their residents by imposing a set of parking restrictions on the border of the two boroughs.

The comments came after the Mayor of London approved Greenwich council’s proposal to add parking charges to streets in Eltham earlier this month.

The controlled parking zone (CPZ) will see charges of up to £4 a day being added to portions of Rochester Way and Welling Way, which sit along the borough’s border with Bexley.

The proposal was put to the Mayor to decide after Bexley council formally objected to the scheme, claiming the initiative would push more parking and traffic into the areas around Falconwood station.

Conservative councillor Andy Curtois said at a Bexley council meeting on July 17: “Already badly hit by ULEZ, the residents of Falconwood now have Greenwich residents coming to park on their roads, making their lives more difficult. Does the Leader share my frustration at the Mayor and Greenwich council’s continued disregard for Bexley’s residents?”

Conservative councillor Richard Diment, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said he shared Cllr Curtois’ anger and frustration. He claimed the scheme would have no impact on Greenwich residents as he said there were no residential homes along the streets.

Cllr Diment said at the meeting: “It’s unclear when the scheme will be implemented but we will monitor it carefully, but if our fears are realised it will cause significant on street parking problems for hundreds of our residents no longer able to find parking near their home.”

The scheme was approved by Greenwich council in December 2022, with council documents claiming the charges would help to cut car use and encourage residents to walk and rely on public transport more.

Parking surveys carried out by Greenwich last year on roads surrounding Falconwood station reportedly found that there were already a significant number of vehicles parked on unrestricted roads in Bexley. The Mayor’s report claimed this implied the opportunity for vehicles from Rochester Way and Welling Way to be displaced to Bexley were relatively low.

Greenwich council documents said: “Any displacement of parking associated with Falconwood station is likely to be dispersed widely both sides of the borough boundary and so unlikely to have the impact on Bexley roads and residents as suggested.”

The report from the Mayor estimated that Greenwich council would begin to implement the CPZ by the end of the month.

The Mayor of London was approached for a statement, but declined the opportunity to comment. Greenwich council has been approached for comment.

Pictured top: Rochester Way, shown between its junction with Riefield Road and Welling Way, will now have parking charges added to it in future (Picture: Google Street View)