Parking frequently asked questions

Most of the information you should need to know about parking in the borough can be found under the main headings and so are not repeated here. Useful topics are

Your questions answered

If you have questions not answered here or in other areas of the website, you can find our contact details on the Parking contacts and feedback page.

I've broken down, what should I do?

Ideally you should move your vehicle as soon as possible to a location where you can legally park.

If your vehicle is causing an obstruction or safety hazard then you must move it immediately to where it is no longer causing problems.

If you cannot legally park your vehicle, you should call the Enforcement line on 020 8744 0462 to notify them of the problem and request a 'Not to Book' reference. This is a reference number which can be displayed temporarily in your windscreen which will notify any officers in the area that your vehicle should not be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.

All broken down vehicles must be moved and parked legally within 24 hours.

I want to apply for a crossover but there is a parking bay across it, what should I do?

Crossovers must be constructed by the Council and application forms can be obtained from:-

Group Engineer, Highways Section
Traffic and Transport, Environment
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham TW1 3BZ

Why can’t I park across my own crossover (in a CPZ)?

The regulations covering the introduction of a CPZ state that all of the highway must be designated as either a parking place or an area where parking is prohibited.

Yellow lines are painted across crossovers in order to ensure that obstructive parking does not take place. Without these lines and appropriate enforcement, others could park across your driveway and obstruct it.

You can park on the yellow lines outside the CPZ hours unless special restrictions apply and are appropriately signed.

My crossover is blocked by a vehicle which is not a visitor to my property, can you book it?

This depends on the particular situation although the Council has powers to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to the vehicle if certain criteria are met. Please call the Enforcement Line (details on the Parking contacts and feedback page) where your details will be taken and if appropriate an Enforcement Officer will be sent to investigate and take action where allowed. Please note that we are unable to move the vehicle and if this is necessary you should contact the Metropolitan Police.

Why can’t I park ON my crossover? (Outside CPZs)?

Parking on any part of the footway contravenes a London-wide footway parking ban. This includes dropped crossovers that form part of the footway. The ban is designed to prevent obstruction to those using the footway and to minimise damage to the footway and utility services below.

My road is narrow and cars are always getting damaged by large vehicles. Can we be allowed to park on the footway?

Vehicles can only park on the footway if the Council has exempted it from the London wide footway parking ban.

If you want us to consider providing footway parking in your road, please contact:

Transport Planning Manager

Environmental Planning and Review
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
TW1 3BZ

Where an exemption is made, the permitted parking area is identified by white lines on the footway and small blue signs. Parking outside the marked areas is a contravention of the regulations and may result in the issue of a parking ticket.

There are motor vehicles parked on the footway outside my house. What can you do about it?

We will send an Enforcement Officer to deal with the problem. Please ring the Enforcement line (details on the Parking contacts and feedback page).

There are no signs showing when the yellow line is restricted. Is it OK to park there?

Probably not. Check to see if you are in a Community Parking Zone (CPZ) - are there resident bays or meter bays nearby? If you are in a CPZ, the restricted times are shown on signs at all entry points to the zone, as stated in the Highway Code. There is no requirement to individually sign yellow line restrictions in a CPZ unless the restrictions of that yellow line differ to those stated on the CPZ sign.

I was parked on a single yellow line on a Sunday or Bank Holiday. I thought that restrictions did not apply on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

There is no legislation stating that a single yellow line cannot apply on a Sunday or Bank Holiday. Check the signs. A single yellow line can apply on Sunday or Bank Holiday. If no days are specified on the sign, the yellow line does apply on Sundays.

Do double yellow lines apply 24 hours a day?

Yes. Double yellow lines apply 24 hours a day, every day. This includes Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Is there a grace period allowed for parking illegally?

No. As soon as a vehicle is parked in contravention of the regulations a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.

There are always untaxed or abandoned vehicles parked in our street. What can you do about it?

The council has a team dedicated to dealing with nuisance parked vehicles within the borough and you should contact them if you suspect that a vehicle parked on a public highway is either untaxed or has been abandoned.

For further information, please see the Abandoned vehicles pages.