Parking hell: Islington most expensive place to park in the UK

By Holloway Express staff

It’s an outrage! Islington Council is charging drivers more to park than any other council in the country, with residents and visitors complaining that the situation is part of a “constant war against the motorist”.

Drivers in the area have to pay £12.50 an hour to park on some roads at certain times, along with a £6.50 per hour diesel surcharge. And when home team Arsenal are planning at the Emirates, the price of parking is even higher than a Arsenal sandwich meal deal, which in January sold for £24 (“All right if it didn’t cost your left kidney”).

In fact, the parking situation has got so dire that some visitors to the north London borough would rather pay a £65 parking fine that shell out legally for parking.

“I have worked in London since 2011… parking before was 60 quid, now it’s 180 pounds!,” said delivery driver Adir Band, 33. “Doesn’t make any sense, they are just taking people’s money!”

Here’s what other people affected by the staggering cost of parking have to say:

“The parking prince it’s just jeep going up. It’s a constant war against the motorist,” said David Foster, 69, a chandelier technician. He was walking in a local park enjoying a brief respite from the rain.

Photo of David Foster by Nicky Detain

“I find that parking in the more affluent areas of London is much cheaper than in the working class areas of London.

“I say that because, if my colleague who I work with wants to park his van where I live in around the square, it’s £7.20 for an hour, as apposed to being in Kensington or Chelsea where it’s probably £2.50 or £3.00 for an hour,” he added.

Photo by Edimar Moreira Kamp

Michele Firinu, 36, is a restaurant manager at the Italian Zia Lucia on Holloway Road. He said he has lots of delivery drivers who find that the waiting for parking is “terrible”. He said: “That is why I wait inside the lorry, so I do not get a ticket.”

David Fischer, a driver at Direct Transport Solutions, also said that the price of parking is having a negative effect on his work – and thus his profits. “Customers always complain: “Where can I park that is not that expensive?” and I laugh. But it’s really affecting my business, and also the price increases when it’s a match day – that is more crazy.”

Indeed, those affected by Arsenal match days pay the biggest price – literally. Bartosz Grzesz, 19, is an employee at the Arsenal merchandise store near the Emirates Stadium.

“Parking costs in some areas in central London are up to £20 an hour. Some people want to come to the shop but they can’t because of the car, and family… it’s crazy,” he said.