The Rector of St Bride's Church on Fleet Street has expressed surprise at the overwhelming public support in its campaign against proposed Sunday parking charges that threaten its future. Reverend Canon Dr Alison Joyce spoke after a petition urging the City of London Corporation to review the changes gathered close to 2,000 signatures, following coverage by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Historic Church Faces New Challenge
St Bride's, with centuries of history and strong ties to the newspaper industry, has raised concerns that introducing Sunday parking charges would create a barrier for worshippers. The church has survived wartime bombing and the plague but fears this proposal could significantly impact its congregation.
Dr Joyce, who has served as Rector for 12 years, previously told the LDRS that the Sunday congregation is "the core building block that enables everything else to happen," providing financial support and filling officer and volunteer roles. "The whole edifice depends on us having a thriving Sunday congregation," she said.
Petition Gains Momentum
As the petition reached around 1,900 signatures, Dr Joyce stated: "We have been taken aback by the huge amount of support we have received in support of this campaign – and also that there is a growing recognition that if the City is going to meet its net zero targets successfully, there has to be more joined-up thinking at the planning stage." She added: "There is no point making it harder for people to get into the city by car at weekends, when public transport is so hopelessly unreliable."
The potential Sunday charges are part of a broader package of changes the Corporation is consulting on. The online survey notes that the Controlled Parking Zone was last reviewed 17 years ago, and since then the City has grown and travel patterns have changed. Proposed alterations include amending parking hours on single yellow lines and when charges apply.
Unnecessary and Poorly Researched?
Dr Joyce argued the charges are unnecessary, showing the LDRS photos of Fleet Street on Sundays with few vehicles besides buses. "It's the fact that they're unnecessary, and I simply don't think they've looked at the impact," she said. "I don't think they've done their research properly."
The petition supporting St Bride's calls for the Corporation to withdraw the proposal, stating: "Sunday charging would place an unnecessary financial burden on people attending services, including families, older worshippers, and on volunteers who give their time to support the City's historic churches." It also argues it would "undermine the long‑standing principle that the City remains accessible for worship on Sundays, when businesses are closed and traffic is minimal – and run counter to the Corporation's own ambition to increase footfall in the City."
Local Support and Official Response
Alderwoman Martha Grekos, representing Castle Baynard ward, said: "I am delighted to be helping St Bride's Church and other religious and cultural institutions in the ward object to the imposition of Sunday parking charges." She noted that such changes go against the Destination City vision, which aims to attract more footfall to boost the local economy, attract better shops and tenants, and allow the area to flourish. "We are asking the Corporation to withdraw the proposal and to work with local churches, cultural institutions and community groups to ensure that the Square Mile remains open and accessible for all," she added.
A Corporation spokesperson said: "A public consultation on potential changes to the City of London's Controlled Parking Zone is currently underway, and no decisions have been taken. As the consultation remains open, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."
The consultation runs until Wednesday, July 1. A decision is expected in September, with any changes implemented from next April.
