Lambeth Council Faces Backlash Over Driveway Parking Crackdown

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Residents in Lambeth have accused the local Labour council of treating motorists as “cash cows” after officials began targeting homeowners for “illegally” parking on their own driveways. The south London council has identified nearly 200 homes in Streatham Vale where occupants are driving over pavements without officially approved dropped kerbs, prompting demands for hefty fees to formalize access.  

 

A recently created council map marks these homes with a red X, highlighting what it describes as “illegal crossovers” where vehicles are driven over footways to reach private property without permission. To make these driveways legal, homeowners are now being asked to pay thousands of pounds, a move that could reportedly generate up to £1 million in fees for the council.  

 

The crackdown is being justified under Lambeth’s “kerbside strategy,” which the council claims will help address the climate emergency. The policy argues that “free unrestricted parking” has a negative impact on the environment and aims to encourage more sustainable urban features like parklets, cycle parking, and public seating. According to the council’s research, 4 percent of the cars in the area parked off-street appear to have unauthorized vehicle access, which conflicts with these sustainability goals.  

 

Homeowners were warned in a council pamphlet that if they do not formalize their driveways in accordance with council policies, parking bays could be placed in front of them, effectively blocking access to their own property. The cost of obtaining “dropped kerbside access” through an individual application is £4,000, and this does not include additional costs for construction, planning permission, or utility clearances.  

 

Ashad Khan, a 48-year-old research scientist who has lived in his Streatham Vale home for 20 years, expressed frustration over the policy. He currently parks his hybrid and electric vehicles on his unofficial driveway to access a charging point but now faces significant costs to maintain that access. “We will now have to pay to park in front of our house or consider paying thousands of pounds for a legal crossover,” he said. “It’s an excuse to make money. We paid a premium for these vehicles because they are environmentally friendly. Now the council is penalizing us.”  

 

Neil Salt, a representative from Streatham and Croydon North Conservatives, acknowledged that unapproved crossovers were technically illegal but questioned why the council was suddenly enforcing regulations that had been ignored for years. “It raises the question as to why they are seeking to levy this huge cost now. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact the council currently needs to save over £69 million over the next four years, could it?” he said.  

 

Salt also criticized the £4,000 fee, calling for it to be reduced to align with neighboring councils, which charge around £3,000 for a similar service. He further pointed out the excessive cost of simple road markings, noting that while Lambeth charges £261.27 to paint or refresh a white line, Merton council offers the same service for just £80 or £40, respectively. “Yet again, Lambeth is using car owners as cash cows for assisting with its financial predicament,” he said.  

 

In the 2023/24 financial year, Lambeth Council raised £53.7 million from parking-related income, and some residents see the driveway enforcement as just another means of increasing revenue. The crackdown coincides with a consultation about introducing resident parking permits in Streatham Vale to prevent commuters from parking for free before taking trains into central London.  

 

Adding to local frustration, the council recently approved a nearby “car-free” residential tower with 237 homes. Critics argue that this will only increase parking pressures in Streatham Vale, making controlled parking zones more likely. A pamphlet distributed by the council stated, “The car-free status can only have effect if parking controls are in place.”  

 

Resident Helen Smith fears the situation is a sign of things to come. “The cost of permits in other parts of the borough has risen sharply, making it clear this is a huge cash cow for Lambeth, and sets a precedent for our area if, or more likely when, it’s introduced,” she said.  

 

A Lambeth Council spokesman defended the policy, stating that a “high number of unauthorized crossing points” were discovered during public engagement on parking controls. “It is illegal to drive a vehicle over the pavement without having an authorized vehicle crossover. This requires a resident to make an application, gain approval, and pay for the works to adapt the highway to enable safe access,” he said.  

 

The council also argued that driving over pavements not designed for vehicles causes damage that it must repair, while also posing a safety risk by creating obstructions when cars overhang onto footpaths. However, for residents now facing the choice between paying thousands of pounds or losing access to their driveways, the policy feels less like a safety measure and more like a financial burden imposed by an increasingly cash-strapped local authority.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-03-04

 

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