100 signatures reached
To: Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Climate and Air Quality, Waltham Forest
Stop Unfair Parking Fines & Suspensions in Waltham Forest
We are calling on Waltham Forest Council - specifically Cllr Clyde Loakes, who is responsible for parking, and the Cabinet - to:
- Cancel PCNs issued where signage was unclear, missing, or enforcement began before 8am (works before 8am are in breach of national regulations on noisy works).
- Suspend all parking suspensions related to gulley cleaning and tree works until a full, transparent review is conducted.
- Investigate the use of private, target-led enforcement companies whose financial incentives may lead to overzealous or unfair ticketing.
- Hold a public meeting or resident consultation to allow those affected to raise concerns and demand policy reform.
- Implement borough-wide standards for signage, legal enforcement hours, and direct resident notification before any future suspensions.
Why is this important?
We, the undersigned residents of Waltham Forest, are calling on the Council to immediately suspend and review its current enforcement of parking bay suspensions related to gulley cleaning and tree works - which have resulted in hundreds of unfair Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) being issued across the borough.
Why is this important?
Why is this important?
This is not a minor administrative issue - it’s a borough-wide enforcement failure, leading to residents being fined unfairly, and in some cases, unlawfully.
One resident on Norlington Road personally counted 25 PCNs being issued in a single morning before leaving for work - and the enforcement officer was still going. None of the residents on the street had been informed about any gulley cleaning, and to make matters worse, the gullies weren’t even cleaned.
Residents have been fined in circumstances that are fundamentally wrong - and in some cases, unlawful:
Signs only placed on the opposite side or at either end of the street
This makes the suspension invisible to many residents - especially those parked legally on the side without signage. According to the Traffic Management Act 2004 and case law (e.g. Campbell v Camden, 2011), signage must be clearly placed at or near the suspended bay. If a driver couldn't reasonably see the sign, the PCN is invalid.
This makes the suspension invisible to many residents - especially those parked legally on the side without signage. According to the Traffic Management Act 2004 and case law (e.g. Campbell v Camden, 2011), signage must be clearly placed at or near the suspended bay. If a driver couldn't reasonably see the sign, the PCN is invalid.
Signage not installed far enough in advance (sometimes only 1–2 days before)
Best practice across London and from the Department for Transport recommends 5–7 days minimum notice before enforcing a suspension. Short-notice signage denies residents time to comply and can make enforcement decisions procedurally unfair and subject to challenge.
Best practice across London and from the Department for Transport recommends 5–7 days minimum notice before enforcing a suspension. Short-notice signage denies residents time to comply and can make enforcement decisions procedurally unfair and subject to challenge.
No letters or direct notice sent to affected households
Residents should not have to guess or spot temporary signs to avoid fines. While not a strict legal requirement, direct notice (via letter drop or online alerts) is a reasonable expectation for non-emergency works, especially in residential areas. The lack of direct notice contributes to PCNs being issued unfairly.
PCNs issued before legal work start hours (as early as 07:05)
Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, noisy public works - including gulley cleaning and tree pollarding - should not commence before 08:00 in residential areas. Issuing PCNs before 8am, when no lawful work can take place, means the vehicle was not obstructing any works at the time - making the enforcement questionable at best, unlawful at worst.
Residents should not have to guess or spot temporary signs to avoid fines. While not a strict legal requirement, direct notice (via letter drop or online alerts) is a reasonable expectation for non-emergency works, especially in residential areas. The lack of direct notice contributes to PCNs being issued unfairly.
PCNs issued before legal work start hours (as early as 07:05)
Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, noisy public works - including gulley cleaning and tree pollarding - should not commence before 08:00 in residential areas. Issuing PCNs before 8am, when no lawful work can take place, means the vehicle was not obstructing any works at the time - making the enforcement questionable at best, unlawful at worst.
No works carried out - but tickets still issued
In multiple cases, the supposed gulley cleaning or tree work never happened. If no work was done, and no obstruction occurred, there is no valid justification for the suspension or the PCN. This could be seen as issuing penalties for phantom violations, which may breach the council’s own enforcement policies.
In multiple cases, the supposed gulley cleaning or tree work never happened. If no work was done, and no obstruction occurred, there is no valid justification for the suspension or the PCN. This could be seen as issuing penalties for phantom violations, which may breach the council’s own enforcement policies.
And while this happens, Waltham Forest Council is using a private, target-driven enforcement company - financially incentivised to issue as many tickets as possible. This creates a clear conflict of interest and undermines any sense of fairness or accountability.
This enforcement model is causing financial and emotional stress, especially for working families, disabled residents, carers, and those who rely on their cars for essential travel - most of whom had no idea they were “in violation" of parking suspension notices.
We are demanding:
We are demanding:
- The cancellation of PCNs issued where:
- No clear or visible signage was in place
- Enforcement began before 8am (in breach of national regulations)
- The supposed works did not take place
- Residents had no opportunity to comply due to lack of notice
- No clear or visible signage was in place
- A full audit and suspension of current parking suspension enforcement until a review is completed
- A public meeting or resident forum to raise concerns and press for permanent reforms
It is time for Waltham Forest Council to stop using parking enforcement as a cash-generating operation, and start acting with transparency, proportionality, and respect for its residents.
Please sign and share to demand urgent action.
