'Our streets are car park for Westfield'

TOWN HALL chiefs have changed parking rules after residents complained about shoppers using their streets as Westfield's car park.

People living near the new shopping centre said they were unable to park and roads have been clogged up.

During the first four days of opening, Westfield London attracted 500,000 visitors - some of whom took advantage of free parking on Sunday.

Now Hammersmith & Fulham council is using emergency powers to introduce rules to protect bays for permit holders on Sundays.

Residents say they have already put up with a year of building noise and have gone from living on a construction site to living in a car park.

Lawyer Sharon Michaels, who lives in Shepherd's Bush Place, has hung a sign on her Grade II-listed cottage saying: "H&F: Putting Westfield first."

She said: "The whole year has been a nightmare for us and it's not getting any better. I can't sleep any more because of all the disruption.

"Last Sunday was a nightmare. People came here to park rather than be charged. I didn't dare leave the road - it was full of people being forced to do 101-point turns." Her neighbour Sara Tibbets, a documentary maker, said: "The parking situation is so bad soon we'll be forced to park in Westfield."

In four weeks the current Saturday controls will be enforced on Sundays in Controlled Parking Zone G, which contains the worst affected streets in the area. From 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm to 8pm only permit holders and their visitors will be able to park.

Nicholas Botterill, deputy leader of the council, said: "We promised that Shepherd's Bush would not become Westfield's car park and these initial changes will be put in place before Christmas."