The Problem:
Following recent consultations, multiple zones across the
borough (including the six zones around Olympia, Zone F covering
Stamford Bridge/Fulham Broadway, and others) have extended parking
controls to Monday-Sunday, 8:30am-10pm, with a two-hour maximum
stay for pay and display/RingGo parking and no return within one
hour.
While we understand the Council's intention to manage parking
stress and address concerns from residents within each specific
zone, the current system creates severe unintended consequences for
H&F residents who need to travel between zones within their own
borough for essential daily activities.
Resident parking permits only provide exemption within a permit holder's own zone. This means that H&F residents who pay council tax and hold valid resident permits are restricted to just two hours of parking when they travel to other areas of the borough for:
•Taking children to schools outside their residential
zone
•Attending places of worship
•Volunteering at community organisations and charities
(homeless shelters, food banks, youth centres)
•Shopping at local high streets and supporting small
businesses
•Attending medical appointments at GP surgeries, clinics, and
health centres
•Caring for elderly relatives or friends
•Participating in community activities, sports clubs, and
classes
•Attending parent-teacher meetings and school events
•Using leisure centres, libraries, and other council
facilities
•Meeting friends and maintaining social connections
Two hours is simply insufficient for many of these activities. A
volunteer shift at a homeless shelter typically lasts 3-4 hours. A
family shopping trip or attending a child's school event can easily
exceed two hours. Medical appointments with waiting times regularly
take longer than two hours.
The Impact:
This policy effectively penalises H&F residents for
participating in community life within their own borough. It
particularly impacts:
•Parents with children attending schools in different
zones
•Volunteers contributing their time to support vulnerable
residents
•Regular worshippers at churches, mosques, synagogues, and
temples
•Carers supporting elderly or disabled family members and
friends
•Residents supporting local businesses and high streets across
the borough
•Those accessing health services, community centres, and
leisure facilities borough-wide
The financial burden is also significant. H&F residents already pay council tax and many hold resident parking permits (which have recently increased substantially). Being forced to pay additional parking charges of £2-4 per hour (or risk £65-130 penalty notices) to participate in essential activities within their own borough is unreasonable and discriminatory.
Moreover, this policy undermines the Council's own stated objectives around community cohesion, supporting volunteering, encouraging use of local services, and maintaining vibrant high streets. It creates a fragmented borough where residents are discouraged from traveling beyond their immediate zone.
What we are asking for:
We call on Hammersmith and Fulham Council to introduce a
borough-wide visitor permit scheme or extended parking allowance
that enables H&F residents to park for longer periods at a
reduced cost in zones outside their own residential area.
Specifically, we request:
1.A discounted cross-zone permit allowing H&F residents to park
for 4-6 hours in other borough zones at a significantly reduced
rate (e.g., £1-2 per day or a monthly pass option)
2.OR exemptions from the two-hour maximum stay for registered
volunteers, regular worshippers, and parents with children at
borough schools
3.OR a borough-wide resident permit that provides partial
exemptions across all H&F zones for council tax-paying
residents
Other London boroughs have successfully implemented similar schemes that balance parking management with resident needs. H&F residents should not be treated as outsiders in their own borough.
We recognize the Council's need to manage parking stress in
high-demand areas, but this must be balanced against residents'
fundamental ability to participate fully in borough life without
excessive financial penalty or time restrictions.
The current system is creating a two-tier borough where only those
living within walking distance of services can fully participate in
community activities. This is particularly unfair given that
H&F residents are already paying council tax and resident
permit fees.
We urge the Council to work with residents to develop a fair
solution that protects parking availability within zones while
enabling H&F residents to access services, volunteer, worship,
care for others, and support local businesses throughout the entire
borough.
This ePetition runs from 09/12/2025 to 30/01/2026.
52 people have signed this ePetition.