Residents and traders on Pitshanger Lane have accused Ealing Council of ignoring local concerns after new parking restrictions came into force with campaigners warning the changes are already damaging the neighbourhood high street.
The Pitshanger Community Association has launched a petition calling on the council to reverse the “Stop & Shop+” parking scheme, which was introduced in October 2025 on the Lane. The petition has so far been signed by more than 2,000 people.
In the petition, the group said of the new parking rules: “Since their implementation they have caused not only great confusion, wrongly issued tickets and chaos on the side roads but have had a hugely negatively and detrimental affect on our local, independent businesses.
“Footfall has almost halved since the restrictions came into effect, plunging an already struggling High Street into even greater difficulty.”
The association also argued the changes were undermining the purpose of neighbourhood high streets. It added: “Local High Streets should be a convenience for shoppers, both local and from outside the area, looking for a more personal experience. The council’s decisions are increasingly pushing people towards supermarkets with car parks and away from these independent businesses who are fighting to survive.”
Comments left by people signing the petition echoed those concerns. One supporter wrote: “This is a completely unnecessary and anti-social way to manage short-stay parking. I don’t need an app, a smartphone with good signal, or a walk to a ‘registration point’ just to pop into a bakery or convenience store for ten minutes. What used to be a simple human activity is now another digital toll booth doubling as a money-grabbing exercise dressed up as ‘modernisation’.”
Another signer said: “Pitshanger Lane is a really special place. However, I’ve noticed how empty it has become in such a short space of time. It would be devastating to lose it. I’ve heard people say they’re popping to Waitrose or Sainsbury as parking is free.”
A further comment warned: “This will affect the business for our local shops. Adding parking restrictions or parking meters will drive people to simply shop at supermarkets and benefit from the free parking facility.”
Under the Stop & Shop+ scheme, drivers must register to receive up to 30 minutes of free parking before paying for longer stays. Registration can be completed via a smartphone app, text message, phone call or at PayPoint outlets. Ealing Council has said the changes are intended to improve parking turnover and make spaces easier to find by creating a consistent approach to short-stay parking across the borough.
The parking changes follow a statutory consultation held between 23 April and 14 May 2025. A council report said it received 791 responses, with 82 per cent opposing the proposals and 73 per cent warning the changes would negatively affect local businesses. Despite this, the council approved the scheme as part of a borough-wide rollout.
The Pitshanger Community Association said the decision showed “a complete lack of consideration for democracy” and is calling for the consultation results to be put into practice and the restrictions withdrawn.
An Ealing Council spokesperson said: “We recognise how important Pitshanger Lane is to the local community and to the independent businesses that help make the area unique. Our aim is always to support thriving local high streets while ensuring parking arrangements are fair, consistent, safe and accessible for everyone.”
The spokesperson added: “Our priority is to keep Pitshanger Lane accessible, safe and attractive for residents, visitors and businesses. We will continue to monitor the impact of the new arrangements, address issues promptly and work closely with the local community to ensure the scheme functions as intended.”
