Disgruntled Eltham residents and a Conservative councillor are campaigning against Greenwich Council’s introduction of pay and display parking on a non-residential stretch of road behind the station.

Pay and display has been introduced in Glenlea Road between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday which Eltham residents feel is just a way of collecting more money from drivers.

Campaigners against the parking restrictions, which began in April, claim it forces commuters to park on neighbouring residential roads.

Councillor Spencer Drury, who started a petition for residents, said: “They have emptied a road where no Eltham residents lived and actually engineered parking problems on roads where they do.

“On top of this the consequences for local shops and businesses could be devastating if people are stopped from parking nearby – especially as it is a road that is not effecting residents.”

Steve Mann, who lives on one of the roads which is worst affected by the new influx of commuter parking said: “I’m really pleased Spencer has set up a petition as the whole policy is mad with spaces in Eltham Park Gardens taken whilst Glenlea Road is empty and the station car park is now full.

“These parking controls will not help new businesses in the area.

“The Labour Councillors clearly don't understand business, but not to care about the jobs they will bring is pretty poor.”

The online petition got 87 signatures in the first day and Cllr Drury and Conservative GLA candidate Adam Thomas have taken a petition door-to-door in the area.

Comments on the online petition, which has nearly reached the 100 signatures target, say that the parking restrictions damage local businesses and exclude people from Eltham.

One supporter wrote: “We need people to come to Eltham. We want people to use our station and our high street and local shops.”

And another said: “This is possibly the easiest way for the council to make a cheap buck and all it does is punish the local residents.”

A Greenwich Council spokesman said: “Pay and display parking in Glenlea Road is part of a number of changes to parking arrangements in Eltham following consultation with residents and businesses.

“The aim is to discourage commuters from parking in residential streets on their way to Eltham Station.

“Free, short term, parking is still available in the vicinity of the local shops in Westmount Road.

“The Council’s aim when introducing parking controls are to improve safety, reduce congestion and improve conditions for residents and businesses."

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