A PERMIT parking scheme which was introduced on four roads last month will be reviewed before the end of July.

Permit parking came into force on Addison, Chaucer, Dangan and Spratt Hall Roads in Wanstead after residents there complained commuters were taking their spaces.

But at a stormy Area One Committee meeting of Snaresbrook and Wanstead councillors last night (May 21), angry business owners joined residents of nearby roads in demanding an immediate review of the scheme.

Shirley Sawyer of Wanstead Place told councillors that the majority of people on her road had voted against permit parking because they already have off street parking.

She said that commuters were now clogging up her road and other non-permit roads in the area.

And she added: “The only time I use my car now is for hospital visits to my husband or for weekly shopping.

“My daughter, who is eight months pregnant, came to visit me recently and I had to illegally put cones outside my door so she could park.”

Igor Bekaert, who owns Belgique in Cambridge Park, and Stavros Nicola of the Bungalow Cafe in Spratt Hall Road, both pleaded with councillors to review the scheme which they said was damaging their businesses.

And Committee Chairman Cllr Chris Cummins had to call the meeting to order several times as speakers interrupted councillors to have their say on the issue.

There was anger from some councillors after Michael Powis of Grosvenor Road said: “Would the Council inform us which other businesses they would like to see closed down due to a lack of customer access?”

Cllr Michelle Dunn told the hall: “We do value the views of businesses and residents.

“And when you see the east side of Spratt Hall Road is empty, then there is something we could look at.

“But I don’t think it’s about taking the scheme away. It’s about getting the balance right.”

Councillors agreed to a provisional review of the scheme, with findings to be presented at the next committee meeting on July 23.

But Cllr Thomas Chan warned nothing should be done until September.

He said: “We need to wait until after the Olympics, because it will be difficult for residents to find an inch of space during the Games if we change the scheme.”

That prompted one woman in the audience to shout: “What about those of us who don’t have a permit? What do we do until September?”

And Mr Baekaert drew loud applause when he said: “It sounds to me like my business is being taken hostage by the Olympic Games.

“That is not right. What should I say to my customers? ‘Sorry, you cannot come to Belgique for the next six months?’”

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