'Give us a Barking plaice for parking'

A FISH and chip shop owner claims he has to park miles away from his business after the council enforced a 'residents only' permit on the Gascoigne Estate.

Ibrahim Kaygisiz has run the takeaway restaurant in St Mary's, Barking, for nearly three years, but says he can no longer park outside his shop.

He claims the council's decision to make Gascoigne estate a resident's only parking zone has meant upheaval for shopkeepers.

"I have to park 20 minutes away from where I work," said Ibrahim. "Then at night I have to walk back to my car in the dark. It's very dangerous."

The council enforced the residents' only parking zone last year after complaints from families about commuters and shoppers stealing their spaces. People living on the estate were furious they could not park outside their own homes.

Ibrahim added: "I understand why there is a need to control parking here. People who live here should be able to park outside their front doors. But I think people who work here and serve the community should have rights too."

Ibrahim is not the only shopkeeper to ask for help from the POST, staff at a pharmacy in the shopping parade have complained they can no longer park outside their workplace.

A council spokesman said: "Shopkeepers in St Mary's, who want their own parking spaces, can purchase business permits from the council. Any who wish to apply can contact the council on 020 8215 3000.

"When introducing the controlled parking zone (CPZ) the council thought very carefully about the impact on the estate's shops. For this reason there is free parking for one hour in the area near the shops.

"The Gascoigne Estate CPZ was introduced after requests from residents and has reduced unnecessary parking, which has benefited residents and their visitors by freeing up a significant amount of parking space.