The Wharton Road car park is an essential part of life for residents in the Bromley North area, particularly those living on Wharton Road and Palace Road, where parking is already scarce. As a member of this community, I see firsthand the challenges we face daily due to the lack of adequate parking facilities. The current proposal to demolish the Wharton Road car park will see the elimination of 16 vital parking spaces, exacerbating the existing problem of oversubscribed parking in our area.

Parking data derived from a Freedom of Information request to Bromley Council reveals an ongoing parking deficit on Wharton Road and Palace Road. This issue will only be compounded by the proposed demolition of the Wharton Road car park. With the increasing number of residents in need of parking and the limited spaces available, it is clear that we cannot afford to lose these vital parking spots.

While we wholeheartedly support initiatives for helping young people transition from care to independent living, we believe such measures should not be detrimental to the current residents' quality of life. The community needs actionable solutions that address the housing needs of young people without sacrificing essential infrastructure like the Wharton Road car park.

We urge Bromley Council to explore alternative solutions, such as identifying other locations to support care leavers that do not result in the loss of crucial parking spaces. Options could include underutilized areas within the council’s property portfolio or collaboration with local businesses for shared spaces.

Protecting the Wharton Road car park is crucial to maintaining the everyday lives of the residents while still supporting commendable new initiatives for young people. We call on you to support this petition to ensure that our voices are heard and considered in the planning process. Please sign this petition to preserve our community's parking infrastructure.