Richmond Council has confirmed plans to convert four car parking spaces by Teddington's Park Road Surgery to 'pay by phone only' spots following a series of complaints from locals.

Prior to the new controlled parking zones (CPZs) that were introduced across Teddington in December 2022, patients were able to use the four spaces on Adelaide Road immediately adjacent to the surgery from Monday through to Friday from 8.30am to 6.30pm, with a maximum stay period of one hour for free.

As part of the updated Teddington CPZs, the four parking spaces and roads primarily east of the Teddington railway line became part of a new zone, T2, a shared-use permit holder/ pay by phone space operating from 10am to 12pm.

The current CPZ outside Park Road Surgery (image supplied)

The move has seen the Teddington Society, the community group operating to 'preserve and enhance' the lives of everyone living within Teddington, receive a series of complaints from patients with T2 permit holders now able to park in the four spaces outside of the 10am - noon slot.

Park Road Surgery has more than 13,000 patients and features in Richmond Council's Local Plan with a proposed move to Teddington's former Police Station now firmly on the cards.

The sheer size of its patient list means many travel from outside of Teddington for their appointments and rely on the four spaces, as well as those less mobile or with a handicap.

Teddington Society's Transport and Air Quality Adviser, Brian Holder, told to Nub News that the last few weeks have seen all four spaces full with cars being parked throughout the day by non-patients, including those with open T2 Business Permits, posing the risk of them being used by multiple drivers not attending appointments at Park Road Surgery.

Patients at Park Road Surgery have struggled to travel to appointments following the hogging of the four spaces by permit holders (image supplied)

In a bid to resolve the issue, Richmond Council has confirmed that the spaces will now be converted to 'pay by phone only', with permits to no longer be accepted moving forward.

A spokesperson for the authority told Nub News: "We understand that it has recently come to light that the changes to this parking bay are presenting some issues for patients visiting the surgery.  Following consideration of the situation, we are now making arrangements to convert the spaces to 'Pay By Phone' Only and to operate them Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm as before. 

"This will be with the aim of maintaining some turnover parking for visitors, such as those visiting the surgery, throughout the day.  An officer from the Parking Policy Team will be visiting the surgery to discuss the matter and to provide any advice/support on how patients can use the 'Pay By Phone' system."

Further details on CPZs in Teddington and across the Richmond borough can be found here.