Hammersmith and Fulham Council is running two parking consultations for zones near Ravenscourt Park, proposing extended hours and a two-hour maximum stay, with feedback open until September 18. The proposals have split local opinion, with some residents and businesses fearing increased costs and disruption, while others see them as a reasonable response to parking pressures.
Proposed changes to Zones K and L
Zone L, bordered by Goldhawk Road to the north and King Street to the south, and Zone K, extending east to Goldhawk Road station, are both subject to potential changes. Currently, parking controls operate from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday with no maximum stay. Visitors and commuters can pay to park for up to eight hours on weekdays, with free evenings and weekends.
The council says residents in Zone L have requested changes due to increased pressure on spaces, including displacement from another nearby zone and rental van and car hire companies occupying spots. Similar issues have been raised in Zone K, with added concerns about traffic from the reopening of Olympia and the King Street development.
Locals are being asked to choose between keeping the current controls or extending them to 8.30am until 10pm or 11pm, seven days a week, with a two-hour maximum stay. If extended, residents would get free visitor parking after 5pm and all weekend, with the maximum stay not applying to those booked by locals and businesses via RingGo.
Residents and businesses voice concerns
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to several residents and business owners who expressed concerns. Kayleigh, a manager at a nearby pub, said the associated hotel would likely be more affected than the day-to-day business. "I would just rather it didn’t happen," she said. "Obviously you can appreciate it's probably annoying because people park when they are going into the [Ravenscourt Park] Tube station." She added that weekend controls would "make a big difference."
Carol B, a resident in one of the zones, opposed the changes. "I think it’s going to give an excuse to the council to increase the permit costs, and that’s wrong," she said. "It’s enough as it is." She noted that while it wouldn't affect her personally, she knows people who struggle to park outside their front doors.
Marco Manfredini, co-owner of Borghi’s Café, echoed fears of rising costs. "It could affect us because on the weekends more people they do come here," he said. "But because everything is going to rise it’s going to affect everything."
Mixed reactions from the community
Not everyone was opposed. Lucy Boyd, out walking her dog, said people with disabilities or children might struggle but added: "Generally it’s okay. I think at first I found it quite alarming, but when you get into it it’s okay." Jane, who did not give her surname, was more forthright: "There’s nothing wrong with it as it is. Sometimes…you have to park in the next street, you can’t get outside your house, but honestly, we live in a city."
Council defends consultation process
A Hammersmith and Fulham Council spokesperson said: "We're working with residents and businesses to make sure parking works for them and their visitors. As part of our consultation, we let local people choose the parking hours that work for their own area. It means we can reflect what residents actually need, while supporting local businesses. It's all part of our work to make Hammersmith and Fulham the best place to live, work and socialise."
The council's borough-wide controlled parking zone programme has operated since 2024. Over the last two years, 10 out of 18 zones consulted have chosen to change their parking controls, with another six in progress of being analysed. The consultations for Zones K and L close on September 18, and a third consultation has just ended.
