Concerns have been raised over parking ticket hotspots near Brent schools, with councillors calling for a review of signage and resident communication strategies. The issue was discussed at a Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, where officers assured the committee that spikes in Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were being monitored closely. Weekly meetings are held to review numbers and lost appeals.
Councillor Barbara Want noted a significant increase in PCNs, particularly concerning school streets, and questioned whether signage was truly effective, even if compliant with statutory requirements. She suggested that motorists were clearly not seeing the signs, otherwise, the high number of PCNs would not be issued. The meeting information highlighted specific areas as hotspots, with significant year-on-year increases in PCNs. One school area in Preston Ward saw 12,000 tickets issued in a single year, while Bolton Gardens experienced an increase from a few hundred to approximately 3,500-4,000 tickets annually. Councillor Mary Mitchell also pointed to Willesden Green as a potential hotspot.
The primary reasons for these spikes, particularly around schools, are linked to the implementation of school street restrictions. Officers confirmed that signage for these restrictions is compliant with statutory requirements, meaning it adheres to specific sign types, formats, and heights. However, they acknowledged that motorists might not always notice or fully understand the enforcement in place. Triangular signs are placed at the entrance to school streets to alert drivers, and the council is exploring the possibility of adding more signage. Despite the statutory compliance, the sheer volume of PCNs issued for school streets – 73,000 in one year – led Councillor Want to question if children were being adequately protected, implying a potential focus on revenue generation over safety. Officers refuted this, stating the primary aims are safety and improved air quality.
Councillor Ben stressed the need for effective enforcement against illegal parking, arguing that both business needs and the requirement for clear enforcement must be factored into policy. He added that sensitivity to business needs should also account for businesses that require people to come by car and those that need to deal with illegal parking.
Councillor Mary Mitchell highlighted the need for the forthcoming parking strategy to align with wider council policies on active travel and biodiversity, questioning the data monitoring that would inform the strategy. Officers confirmed an officer-led group has been established to ensure strategies are integrated, drawing expertise across disciplines. The strategy will also consider the latest policies around the long-term transport strategy, climate and ecological emergency strategy, and the equality action plan. Councillor Mitchell also pointed out competing demands for kerbside space, such as EV charging points, deliveries, micromobility, greening, and planting, suggesting that the parking strategy should be viewed within a wider curbside management approach.
The forthcoming parking strategy will be informed by data from Brent's own parking systems, including permit types and emissions from registered vehicles. Additionally, a new map-based system for traffic orders is being introduced in the autumn. This system will be public-facing and will allow users to view parking restrictions, as well as the locations of electric vehicle charging points and bike hangars, providing metrics around kerbside usage.
Officers confirmed that they review the outcomes of appeals that go to tribunals, indicating an existing appeals process and a commitment to learning from these decisions. They are also working with schools to raise awareness among parents and carers about school street restrictions to prevent them from driving into these zones. A recommendation was made to review signage, resident communication, and engagement around school streets as part of the broader parking strategy.
For more details on the committee's discussions, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack from the meeting.
