East London Residents Rally for Free Parking During Friday Prayers
More than 500 residents in an East London borough have united to demand free parking provisions for Friday prayers, highlighting significant challenges faced by Muslim worshippers in the area. A petition launched in Waltham Forest has garnered 581 signatures, calling on local authorities to address parking restrictions that impede religious observance.
Struggles with Parking Restrictions
The petition outlines how many Muslims in the borough struggle to attend Jumu'ah, the compulsory Friday prayers for men, due to limited parking availability. With few mosques in the area and insufficient alternatives, worshippers often face a difficult choice: risk fines, experience stress, or miss their prayers altogether. This weekly commitment has turned into a serious issue, forcing individuals to balance their faith practices against the threat of parking penalties.
Aslam Hansa, Operations Manager at Noor Ul Islam mosque, emphasised the severity of the situation. "For adult men, the Friday prayer is a compulsory prayer to attend and now there is nowhere to park," he stated. Hansa noted that previous free parking bays, which allowed 15-minute stops, have been eliminated due to regulatory changes, leaving no free parking options at all.
Proposed Solution and Community Impact
The petition advocates for a modest, time-limited change: free on-street parking on Fridays from 12pm to 2.30pm. Supporters argue this adjustment would make a real difference for thousands of residents, promoting fairness, inclusion, and respect for religious freedom. They point to successful implementations in other areas as evidence that such measures can foster better community relations.
Hansa highlighted the particular impact on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or those with limited mobility, who rely on cars for transportation. "We have spoken to the local authority, asking if they could lift restrictions even if it's for one hour," he explained. However, the council responded that any changes to established control parking zones would require further consultation and could take years to implement.
Council Response and Broader Context
A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Council acknowledged the importance of faith celebration for residents but stressed the need to balance this with a fair and effective parking policy for all. "Although there are no plans to change our current parking restrictions – which are very similar to neighbouring councils' – we already allow more concessions than many other London boroughs," they said. The council cited examples of working with mosques to facilitate parking during Eid and Ramadan.
The spokesperson also emphasised the borough's commitment to sustainable travel, encouraging alternatives to driving and collaborating with places of worship to share these options with congregants. Parking schemes in Waltham Forest operate in line with national guidance on restrictions and enforcement.
Looking Ahead
The petition, which started on January 1, 2026, is over halfway to its target of 1,000 signatures. Hansa suggested that implementing a lunch hour gap in parking restrictions, similar to practices in areas like Walthamstow, could provide an ideal solution benefiting both worshippers and local businesses. He concluded, "We sympathise with the congregation, and we understand this is a definite problem, across London boroughs."
This issue underscores broader challenges in urban planning and religious accommodation, as communities seek practical solutions to support diverse needs while maintaining equitable policies for all residents.
