Ealing Council’s plans to introduce new controlled parking zones (CPZs) in Greenford have been firmly rejected by local residents, with just 8% backing the proposals, according to the council’s own consultation findings.
As a result, the council has decided not to move forward with the scheme.
The proposed zones, covering Greenford South and Greenford Town Centre, were intended to address parking pressures in some residential streets, where weekend occupancy levels exceeded 100% in several locations. But locals said they didn’t want a CPZ scheme in the two areas with 70% of residents in Greenford South saying no and 68% in Greenford Town Centre expressing opposition to the proposal.
In its report, Ealing Council’s interim head of parking, Tom Gallagher, wrote: “While parking pressures do exist in some streets, the extensive opposition indicates that full CPZ implementation would not have community support and could damage trust in council decision-making.”
The consultation ran from 13 November to 5 December 2024, with leaflets delivered to 6,874 households and businesses across the two proposed zones. According to the Labour-run council, it received 3,801 responses. However, 21% of those were classified as having “no clear position,” due to the lack of a straightforward ‘yes or no’ option on the consultation form.
The consultation process has drawn strong criticism from Ealing Conservatives, who described it as “flawed” and “wasteful.”
An Ealing Conservatives spokesperson said: “This result is a victory for local residents who campaigned against the proposals. Conservatives repeatedly warned Labour about the council’s flawed consultation process. Residents were denied the opportunity to simply say ‘No.’ As if that wasn’t bad enough, a staggering 21% of responses were left unclassified due to the lack of straightforward response options.”
The spokesperson added: “It’s time for Ealing’s Labour Cabinet to wake up, listen to the clear message from Greenford residents and adopt the recommendation not to go ahead with the scheme. Ealing taxpayers’ money should never have been wasted on a consultation that no one asked for.”
The consultation highlighted several resident concerns about the potential introduction of a CPZ. Many pointed to the additional financial pressure of annual permits during a cost-of-living crisis. Others feared negative effects on local businesses, particularly in Greenford Town Centre, where traders rely on easy access for customers. There were also worries about social isolation, with parking restrictions potentially making it more difficult for family, friends, and carers to visit elderly or vulnerable residents.
Despite the proposals aligning with Ealing Council’s broader climate goals—such as reducing traffic, promoting public transport, and improving air quality—the report acknowledges a lack of public confidence in the scheme and recommends it not be pursued.
Instead, it advises that the council focus on improving enforcement in streets experiencing high parking pressure and work with the community to explore alternative, more widely supported solutions.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are a well-established way to fairly manage parking for residents, support local businesses, and help reduce congestion and air pollution.
“We recognise that Greenford Town Centre and Greenford South are areas where parking pressure is high, and measures like CPZs could offer benefits. We’ve carefully considered the feedback through our public engagement and understand most respondents did not support the proposals and so we will not be moving forward with them.
“We will monitor parking conditions and remain committed to working with local communities on any future plans.”
 in Greenford have been rejected by local residents, with just 8% backing the proposals, according to the council’s own consultation findings.){kind=link}