Parking suspensions and dispensations

Suspended parking bays are marked out by yellow warning notices which we aim to put up least 5-7 days before the suspension start date.

It’s the responsibility of road users to pay attention to these notices. If you don’t follow parking restrictions you will get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and your vehicle will be removed.

If you need to park or place a skip in a restricted parking bay but don't need to reserve a specific area, you can apply for a Parking Suspension.

To store anything other than a domestic vehicle on the highway will require a specific licence.

Company vehicles that are private or un-liveried (without company markings or signs) must display a parking dispensation in order to park within or around the suspended area.

In places where there are no existing parking bays or yellow lines a temporary traffic order may be needed to restrict parking.

The council reserves the right to suspend parking bays and spaces without notice; however we’ll generally only do this in an emergency. In these cases offending vehicles may be moved to the nearest safe location.

Before approving an application, the effects on residents and local businesses will be considered to minimise disruption as far as possible.

Parking suspensions (per 5 metre bay) are £90per day plus £110 application fee.

All domestic removals will be charged the application fee only, which is £110 for the first day only. Any additional days will be charged at £90per space plus the application fee.

Please also note that for Commercial/Utility Companies/Non-Resident Suspensions, there is an additional cost of £185 for every vehicle which is required to be relocated/removed from your suspended bay, an invoice will be produced at the end of the suspension period for any additional relocation/removals which took place.

Please note that  suspensions for the specific purpose of filming will have VAT charged at the standard rate of 20%.

The application fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.

Waltham Forest carries out annual gully cleaning operations to improve drainage and help prevent localised flooding. 

To carry out this essential work, temporary parking suspensions are sometimes necessary to allow crews access to gullies. These works are scheduled well in advance to ensure that the whole borough is covered.  Some roads are classed as high risk (prone to flooding) ensuring they get cleaned bi-annually whilst other lower risk roads are checked once every two years.  When parking suspensions are ignored, Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) may be issued, and in some cases, the work cannot proceed as planned.

We kindly ask all residents and visitors to observe parking suspension signs to help us keep Waltham Forest’s drainage systems working effectively during periods of rain/storms Please find our annual programme here  – please note this is subject to change due to emergencies or weather conditions and signage should always be checked before parking.  

• Why do we have these programmes in place

  Waltham Forest has declared a climate emergency, and one of the consequences of climate change is an increased risk of flooding. Because of this, it is more important than ever to ensure our gullies are kept clean and well-maintained to help reduce the likelihood of surface water flooding on the public highway and to protect our community.

   

• Why are parking suspension put in place? 

  Suspensions are put in place to ensure easy access to properties or for maintenance of the highway (for example to clean gullies or street lighting maintenance).

   

• Why does enforcement start so early in the morning for suspended bays?    

  This would always be dependent on the nature of the parking suspension, as sometimes access is needed from very early in the morning. 

   

• Why is the whole road suspended when only certain areas require access – one or two gullies for example? 

  There are several reasons for this. For example, when gullies are cleaned, the entire road surface is often cleaned as well, and sometimes parking bays and yellow lines are relined during the same operation. 

  Additionally, large vehicles and equipment may require extra space to manoeuvre around gullies, especially those located within the road or near bends where access is limited.

   

• How much notice do residents get of an upcoming suspension? 

  We always aim to give at least 5-7 days’ notice, however in the case of emergency works a suspension can be implemented and enforced immediately, although the latter is rarely the case. 

   

• What happens if I park in a suspended bay? 

  Your vehicle can be issued with a penalty charge notice (PCN) and may be removed to our car pound or relocated to a different street. 

   

• What if my car is removed?

  TRACE provides an online service for anyone whose vehicle may have been towed away for illegal parking by any council in London. The web service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. TRACE will advise which pound the vehicle has been moved to and provide information on the procedure for release

  You can also contact TRACE on 0300 077 0100 or text TRACE followed by your vehicle registration to 66663 (please note you may be charged for this service)

   

• How do I report a drainage or flooding issue?

  All information can be found here.

By completing and submitting the application form you agree to the terms and conditions as laid out below.

• Download the parking suspensions terms and conditions (PDF).

If you have any questions about anything not mentioned in these terms and conditions, please contact 0203 092 0112 (select option 7).

Parking dispensations allow you to park a vehicle at a restricted location (a yellow line or a parking bay) for a set time period. A dispensation doesn’t guarantee a parking space.

Dispensations won’t be given to a vehicle, company or applicant that has outstanding unchallenged Penalty Charge Notices.

The application form for the dispensation must be completed and submitted 14 days before you need it. We will consider your application and let you know if it has been approved or declined and let you know what you can do next.

By completing and submitting the application form you agree to the terms and conditions below.

• Download the Parking dispensation terms and conditions (PDF)

• A dispensation costs £70 per vehicle for 1st day and £60 for each additional day.
• Annual one day per week dispensations cost £195

The charges are based on the cost of providing the service including daily on-street monitoring.

In places where there are no existing parking bays or yellow lines, a temporary traffic order may be needed to restrict parking.

To find out about applying for a temporary traffic order email traffic.scheme@walthamforest.gov.uk

If you need to guarantee/secure a specific parking space, you need to apply for a parking suspension.

If you have any complaints about this service area, please send your views in writing to Waltham Forest Parking Services, address details below: