A three-day survey earlier this year recorded 1,700 incidents on the Harrow road
A North London council is set to trial a ‘red route’ on select roads in a bid to clamp down on an ongoing problem with “illegal and inconsiderate” double parking in the area. Harrow Council says the issue is causing congestion, delaying bus journeys, and obstructing emergency vehicles.
Harrow has put forward plans to initiate an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) on three roads in Rayners Lane. The red route, which prohibits any stopping at critical locations even to drop someone off, would run for up to 18 months before a decision is taken on whether to make it permanent.
The Rayners Lane town centre “has become a hotspot” for persistent double parking and the misuse of parking bays, an issue which has been widely reported by residents, local businesses and transport companies, according to the council. A council survey recorded 1,700 incidents over three days, in what officers described as a “deeply embedded issue”.
The red route is proposed to be introduced on three roads – Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, and Village Way East – where the illegal parking is “severely disrupting traffic flow, compromising road safety, and undermining the effectiveness of enforcement efforts”, according to council documents. They claim an urgent and decisive intervention is needed due to the “scale and consistency” of the behaviour.
The traffic surveys – conducted over three days from Friday, May 16 between 7am and 10pm – used CCTV to monitor double parking behaviour on the three roads and its impact on traffic flow. A total of 1,700 incidents were recorded, with Sunday being the worst day as 797 vehicles were observed double parked and contributed to “sustained pressure” on parking spaces well into the evening.
The council claims traditional enforcement efforts, such as regular patrols and issuing penalty notices, “have been ineffective” and feel the red route would be the most effective solution “to restore safe and efficient traffic flow”. It adds: “If no action is taken, the issues of double parking, congestion, and compromised road safety are likely to escalate further.”
There have also been a number of complaints regarding the ongoing misuse of parking bays along Rayners Lane and Alexandra Avenue by moped delivery drivers. Riders have been accused of occupying parking bays for extended periods of time without making deliveries.
A council document states: “This behaviour has led to issues including obstruction, littering, engine idling, and reduced turnover of parking spaces making it more difficult for legitimate customers to access local shops and services. The persistent and unreasonable use of these bays is having a detrimental effect on local trade and contributing to a decline in the overall quality and accessibility of the town centre environment.”
It adds: “Ongoing obstruction of the road network not only delays public transport and emergency services but also poses a serious risk to vulnerable road users, including children, older adults, and those with disabilities. In this context, the introduction of a red route is a necessary and proportionate response, providing a clear and enforceable solution that aligns with both local and regional transport objectives.”
Red routes are identified by road signs and double red lines painted along the kerb. Along these routes, drivers can only stop, park, or load and unload in marked bays, which will also have signs that outline the restrictions on timings and days.
The council has said red routes offer “a clear, enforceable, and strategically targeted solution” to the persistent challenges in the town centre. The decision on whether to move ahead with the ETO will be made by Harrow Council Leader, Cllr Paul Osborn, at an urgent meeting later this week (October 2).
If given the go-ahead, the red route will be introduced under an ETO, which allows the scheme to run for 18 months before a decision is taken on whether to make it permanent. Residents and businesses will be able to give their opinions on the ETO during the first six months, which would allow the council to make modifications to it or decide to withdraw the order altogether.
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