On QPR matchdays, residents are routinely unable to park within a reasonable distance of their own homes. Visiting fans arrive several hours before kickoff and occupy all of available spaces, leaving permit-holding residents with no option but to park 10–15 minutes away and walk back carrying shopping, children, and prams, at this time of the year often in the rain.
This is an unacceptable burden on those who rely on residential parking and pay the increased fees for the privilege of doing so.
The situation also causes significant traffic congestion on our narrow residential roads. Illegal parking is widespread, with vehicles frequently stopping across dropped kerbs and on double yellow lines. Enforcement on matchdays appears minimal, and the lack of meaningful action has created an environment in which these infringements are effectively tolerated. This disproportionately impacts disabled residents, parents with young children, and anyone with mobility challenges, who are left navigating obstructed pavements and reduced access.
Streets such as Collingbourne Road — located just one street away from the stadium — currently have no matchday restrictions in place, despite clearly being affected by matchday pressures.
We therefore ask the council to introduce and robustly enforce matchday parking restrictions to ensure residents can access and park near their homes safely, consistently, and without undue hardship.
This ePetition ran from 10/12/2025 to 10/01/2026 and has now finished.
39 people signed this ePetition.
Thank you to residents for their engagement on this issue and for writing to the Council to highlight concerns about parking pressures on QPR matchdays.
The Council recognises the importance of this feedback in understanding the impact of matchday activity on local streets.
Currently, Zone V, the parking zone to the west of Loftus Road stadium, has parking controls operating Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with a maximum stay of eight hours. These controls do not provide protection for residents on QPR matchdays, meaning visitors are able to park without restriction during weekend and evening fixtures. As the controls in this area have remained unchanged for a number of years, visiting supporters and staff associated with QPR are likely to be aware of where free parking is available, contributing to increased parking demand and congestion. It should also be noted that the neighbouring parking zone (Zone JJ) operates controls Monday to Sunday, making Zone V a more attractive option for matchday parking.
A full map of parking zones is available on the Council’s website:
https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/parking/pay-and-display/map-controlled-parking-zones.
The recent introduction of a Neighbourhood Improvement Programme traffic scheme in Wormholt is expected to reduce the number of vehicles parking in the wider area. Officers will continue to monitor parking pressures on matchdays to assess the impact of this scheme.
In addition, the Council’s parking enforcement team has been instructed to intensify regular enforcement sweeps of Zone V, particularly on matchdays. This includes issuing Penalty Charge Notices to vehicles parked on junctions, dropped kerbs, and double yellow lines. These restrictions are enforceable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including on matchdays. Dropped kerbs must always be kept clear to ensure safe access for pedestrians, particularly those who are visually impaired or pushing prams.
We recognise that matchdays bring significant parking pressures
to the area. One potential way of addressing this may be changes to
parking controls; however, any such changes would be explored
through consultation with residents rather than predetermined in
advance.
The Council therefore proposes to prioritise a parking consultation
for Zone V in June 2026 to seek residents’ views on a range
of possible options.
The petition reflects the experiences of many residents, but we also acknowledged that there is a broad spectrum of views within the community regarding parking controls. Any changes if supported would therefore be subject to the outcome of the consultation, with implementation considered ahead of the 2026/27 season, in collaboration and through engagement with QPR.
The Council would like to thank residents and ward councillors for their continued engagement on this matter. Feedback from the local community plays an important role in shaping parking policy, particularly in areas affected by event-related pressures. The forthcoming consultation will provide an opportunity for residents to express their views and help ensure that any future arrangements strike an appropriate balance between residential needs, accessibility, and matchday activity.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The current parking controls in zone V are not fit for purpose, and do not provide priority parking for residents on a weeknight or weekend. It is clear that matchdays bring significant parking stress to the area, which can be rectified by extending parking controls.
The following is recommended in response to the petition:
• Prioritise a zone V parking consultation and consult residents in June 2026. Any potential changes will be introduced prior to the start of the 26/27 season.
• Parking enforcement to increase sweeps of the zone on a matchday for the rest of the season and beyond, to enforce against any contravening vehicles parked on dropped kerbs and double yellow lines.
• Officers will continue to monitor parking stress in zone V, to assess the impact of the recent Wormholt traffic scheme.