Residents want to ban blue badges from other areas claiming frauds use them for Westfield centre

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents want blue badge drivers who don’t live in their street banned from parking there, claiming people are borrowing disabled badges to park close to Westfield shopping centre.

Fed-up neighbours in six streets in Shepherd’s Bush Green have launched a petition calling on the council to change the parking rules.

The petition, which Hammersmith and Fulham council has to look at after it received more than 250 valid signatures, also claims fast food delivery drivers are waking people up in the night.

They want the council to introduce a 24/7 ban on non permit holders and non-resident blue badge holders in Caxton Village. They also called for more patrols to check for blue badge fraudsters.

Hammersmith and Fulham council has promised to carry out a “parking stress” survey and for their anti-fraud squad to visit the area.

The petition, which heads to the council on Monday, July 17, reads: “As a result of this proximity to Shepherd’s Bush Green, Caxton Village is frequented, in high volume, by motor vehicles parking on our streets prior to visiting the shops and fast food outlets on Uxbridge Road, or as a result of the long programme of very large events that take place on Shepherd’s Bush Green.

“This often results in there being no available parking spaces for permit holders. Further, this use of parking frequently results in vehicle owners idling their engines whilst eating fast food in their car and disposing of their fast food litter directly onto the streets and pavements, alongside escalating aggression as motorists compete over available parking bays by using their horns and verbal abuse.

“Another consequence of our proximity to Shepherd’s Bush Green and Westfield London is the volume of taxi drivers and food delivery mopeds/vehicles parking on our streets as they wait for their next collection.”

Hammersmith and Fulham council said it has built a number of motorcycle bays along Shepherds Bush Green and Wood Lane to cater for delivery drivers.

Residents also complained of blue badge fraud being rife on Bulwer Street, Aldine Street, Caxton Road, Tadmor Street, Sterne Street and Shepherd’s Bush Place and accused dodgy drivers of using their parking spots to avoid parking inspectors at the Westfield in White City.

The petition, which received 272 signatures, said: “For genuine blue badge users, there appears to be no good reason to park in Caxton Village and walk, given Westfield London offers free parking for blue badge holders four hours per day, seven days per week in every car park at the centre with onward lift access to the centre.

“It has been highlighted by an employee of Westfield London that free parking is only granted upon validation of the blue badge from within Westfield London. Should the person presenting the blue badge not represent the photo on the blue badge, parking will not be validated.

“It is clear therefore that fraudulent blue badge users gain an advantage from parking in Caxton Village instead of Westfield London as they can take advantage of free, time unlimited parking just a few minutes’ walk away from the shopping centre.”

Hammersmith and Fulham council has vowed to carry out a parking survey but said implementing a 24-hour no-parking zone for outsiders wouldn’t be possible to enforce.

They’ve promised to review parking restriction hours after the survey results – which looks at how parking is split between residents and non-residents – are in.

The council said a decision on stopping blue badge holders from Caxton Village would need “further analysis and review” but has promised to get their anti-fraud team to carry out surveillance.

Pictured top: View of Westfield shopping centre from Caxton Road (Picture: Google Street View)