Victory for Park Lane shops as half hour free parking restored!

Months of hard work by ward Councillor Judith Holt sees restoration of free half hour parking.

Shopkeepers and local residents in Park Lane in Hornchurch are celebrating after the restoration of the free first-30 minutes parking outside the shopping parade halfway along their road.

The local businesses – which include Bencrest Chemist, Park Lane Chippy, Hornchurch Food and Wine, Clean Stitch Dry Cleaners and Fortune Inn – were disappointed after Havering Council’s Budget of 2023-2024 to find residents being charged £2.10 to park in the bays outside the shops, despite it stating clearly in the Budget that on-street parking bays in Hornchurch would have the free first half-hour.

Mrs. Kathryn Shackleton of Bencrest Chemist first contacted Councillor Judith Holt, the Conservative Councillor for St. Alban’s Ward, in September 2023 to ask for help. Together, they put together two petitions, one in the shop and one online, which garnered over 500 signatures. Councillor Holt presented the petitions to the Full Council Meeting on 22nd November 2023. After numerous exchanges with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Council Officers, public notices published on 8th March showed Park Lane – plus Douglas Road, Craigdale Road and Kyme Road in Hornchurch – on the list for the free first half-hour parking from 1st April 2024.

“I am delighted for the Park Lane shopkeepers and local residents that they have been given the free half-hour parking” said Councillor Holt. “This is a victory for the people! It will help the businesses in Brentwood Road, too. Small businesses are the life-blood of our local community and it is so important we support them. Our grateful thanks to the Cabinet Member for Environment for correcting the mistake and acknowledging that Park Lane is in HORNCHURCH!”

Councillor Holt with Mrs Kathryn Shackleton and Mr D. Katechia of Bencrest Chemist.

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