Experimental traffic management order (ETMO)
Waltham Forest Council decided in December 2025 to permanently implement changes to its Pay to Park scheme, trialled under an Experimental Traffic Management Order.
Waltham Forest Council decided in December 2025 to permanently implement changes to its Pay to Park (P2P) scheme, which had been trialled under an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) since April 2025. This decision, made at an Executive Decision meeting on 1 December 2025, followed a public consultation that received over 5,000 responses.
The permanent changes include extending P2P hours to 8am - 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday, and removing both the 15-minute and 1-hour free parking periods. Businesses in Chingford raised concerns about these proposals, which are also the subject of an Equality Impact Assessment. The council expects the cost to make the ETMO permanent to be under £5,000.
The ETMO was initially introduced by Waltham Forest Council on 1 April 2025 to test changes to the Pay to Park scheme. Its aims included encouraging active travel, supporting climate goals, addressing inconsistent enforcement, and managing demand to improve vehicle turnover.
Key facts
- Waltham Forest Council decided to permanently implement Pay to Park scheme changes at an Executive Decision meeting on 1 December 2025. Source
- The changes include extending Pay to Park hours to 8am - 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
- The changes also remove the 15-minute and 1-hour free parking periods. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
- The Experimental Traffic Management Order was implemented on 1 April 2025. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
- The cost to make the ETMO permanent is expected to be under £5,000. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.