Parking restrictions and enforcement to resume on 1 June 2020

Parking enforcement resumes on 1 June 2020
Residents, businesses and visitors must have a valid permit to park
New paperless key worker permits will be issued free to those who qualify
Temporary paper key worker permits will no longer be valid.

What does this mean?

If you use a vehicle in the borough, you will need a permit to park during controlled parking times or you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Local Authority advice for Covid-19 lockdown easing

Guidance has been produced jointly by the British Parking Association, London Councils and the Local Government Association to help local authorities develop and implement local plans for lifting temporary traffic and parking arrangements put in place since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Transport is one of the most important factors in ensuring we continue to control the virus and save lives, whilst enabling a phased lifting of the lockdown restrictions.

As people try to avoid public transport, demand for parking will increase and the reintroduction of parking enforcement is necessary to ensure priority can be maintained for additional walking and cycling as well as freight for essential deliveries and services.

Covid-19 Parking Concessions

At the onset of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, we introduced temporary measures to assist residents, visitors, businesses and key workers to be able to park, but most importantly to enable key workers to provide essential services at this challenging time.

Key Worker Permits

The council has issued more than 4,000 permits to key workers so far. For the purposes of parking, the following are classified as key workers:

NHS staff
Staff from the three blue light emergency services (police, fire and ambulance)
Council social care staff
School staff working to support the children of key workers

As workers return back to work and use public transport it is likely to make social distancing more difficult and challenging.

Therefore, we will continue to support frontline NHS staff and other key workers by enabling them to drive to work, and park for free, in car parks and on-street parking bays signed:

Business Permit Holders Only
Business Permit Holders or Pay by phone
Pay and Display
Permit Holders Only
Permit Holders or Pay by phone
Resident Permit Holders Only

Apply for a key worker virtual (paperless) permit

We’re replacing our temporary paper key worker permits with new, paperless virtual permits.

We have emailed all those who were previously issued with paper permits to inform of this change and to ask them for the information we need to issue a paperless permit.

If you have not heard from us, but you meet the criteria above and require a permit, please email online.permit@towerhamlets.gov.uk and provide your full name, home address and vehicle registration number.

Please email from a work address to help us verify your eligibility. Paper permits will no longer be valid from 1 June 2020.

Visitor vouchers at a car free property

Some residents may be unable to use public transport for their own personal health and safety, and if they are unable to walk or cycle to work they may be temporarily using a car.

Therefore, we have added a new permit type to your account called ‘Visitor Voucher - Car Free (paying) in addition to your current account of 30 paying vouchers in a year.

You can purchase up to 40 vouchers but they must be used within 30 days from the date of purchase or you will lose them.

For example, if you purchase 10 vouchers on 2 June 2020 they will expire on 1 July 2020.

This increase is only for a limited period and subject to further lockdown easing.

Furthermore, it is important to note that this decision is discretionary and not a variation to the visitor vouchers terms and conditions.

Apply for or purchase visitor vouchers

Parking enforcement to resume on 1 June 2020

Managing the supply and demand of parking facilities is a key operational responsibility for local authorities and is a vital traffic management tool. It is likely that a phased return to work for certain sectors will lead to an increase in demand for parking places as many people seek alternatives to shared public service transport, for their own personal health and safety.

Wapping bus gate restrictions to resume on 1 June 2020

We are resuming enforcement on Monday 1 June 2020 and from Tuesday 26 May 2020 there will be prominently placed Variable Message Signs (VMS) to let motorists know of the change.

MOT due dates extended

From 30 March, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by 6 months. This is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Please note, there are different temporary rules for MOT tests for lorries, buses and trailers.