As on-road parking becomes more of an issue in residential streets, complaints stressed by drivers across the local area become more regular. According to statistics alongside the 2011 Census of England and Wales, approximately 232,000 people live in 93,000 households in the Borough of Bexley area, on average three people per household. However, it’s becoming apparent that this number is increasing due to factors such as the dramatic boom in house pricing, which has resulted in 15,000 20 to 34 year olds to live with their parents. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the number of vehicles per household is greater than ever before. In fact, according to Transport for London’s Travel Demand Survey from 2005/06 to 2013/14, Bexley had one of the highest percentages of households owning one car in London, around 50%. The issue becomes more apparent when statistics found 24% in the borough owned two or more cars. On-road parking has since been on the rise in recent years, causing transport to become extremely frustrating for the locals.

A local baker, who wishes to stay anonymous, located in Welling, lives along a fairly quiet neighbourhood. Parking regulations down the road state that if a driver cannot park in one of the few white boxes, with two wheels on the pavement, they are permitted to park on the road as long as a neighbour’s driveway isn’t covered. Already being a narrow Avenue, it’s been especially hard for the residents to drive down the street as they face the task of avoiding parked cars, especially as car companies have been increasing the sizes of newer modals. When asked about her experiences with the problem, the local baker replied ‘When visitors come round there are problems trying to find parking for them. On occasions at our old house, people would park across the driveway because it wasn’t a dropped curve but which, in turn, lead to us being unable to access our own driveway.’ When asked if it had always been like this, she added ‘No, before the boxes were put in, you were able to park pretty much where you wanted to without problem. I think this is a negative.’ A proposal she suggested to solve the issue was that ‘There should be a new set of guidelines written up where, on quite backstreets, the white box rule shouldn’t be so strictly adhered too and a driver should be aloud to park their car sensibly without obstructing a road access or driveway. But obviously, wardens could still come round from time to time for that occasion where you do get someone that would park unsuitably and would deservedly receive a ticket. ’

It’s clear the influx of new, bulkier vehicles are clogging Bexley’s streets, despite the Borough’s council website claiming that the area is ‘well served’ with modes of transport such as ‘railway services from North Kent to London.’  Another reason is that having a car is more available than ever before. Many houses in Bexley were built from the Victorian times to the early 1900s with enough driveway for one parked car as, back then, it was still a new, luxury item. Furthermore, being situated in the suburbs of London, terrace housing is more common, built without car driveways. Because of this, and the other factors mentioned, roads such as Elsa Road, housing Welling School Specialist Art’s Collage, see similar issues. Not only does the average driver struggle, but local buses, like the B15, constantly cause prolonged traffic jams as they attempt to manoeuvre through the congestion, posing a danger to students.

As the issue continues to worsen in the eyes of many Bexley residents, they should feel assured knowing that other areas of London have been trying to resolve this and, hopefully, Borough of Bexley council will follow in these footsteps.

Liam Malcolm, Welling School