Polish Centre Says Proposed Parking Changes Threaten its Future
Petition started to persuade council stick with existing Zone L restrictions
In a letter to the council POSK says the restrictions would be 'particularly malicious' to the elderly. Picture: POSK
August 24, 2026
The Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK) on King Street —the largest Polish cultural centre in Europe — has warned that Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s proposed changes to parking restrictions could pose a serious threat to its future. The centre, founded in 1977 and home to theatre, jazz, exhibitions, film, lectures, a historic library and dozens of community organisations, says the plan to introduce seven-day parking controls with a maximum stay of two hours would make it significantly harder for people to attend its events.
Wiktor Moszczynski of POSK has written to the council outlining its concerns. The letter argues that the proposed restrictions would “decimate our footfall” for theatre performances, weekend jazz concerts, children’s activities and pensioners’ social events. Many of these run for more than two hours, meaning visitors would be forced to leave mid-performance to move their cars. POSK says this would feel “particularly malicious” to elderly patrons who already struggle with public transport access, especially the long staircase at Ravenscourt Park station.
The centre stresses that most of its audience comes from outside the borough, including families travelling for children’s theatre, scholars visiting the Polish Library from abroad, and jazz fans from across southern England. It also hosts English choirs, City Academy Theatre productions and meetings of the Chiswick Arts Group. POSK argues that it functions much like a place of worship, drawing people from a wide area for events that last longer than two hours, and therefore requires accessible parking.
The organisation says the proposed changes would increase the cost and difficulty of attending cultural events, particularly for older people, families and those with mobility needs. It also notes that visitor permits are not a workable solution for a centre with thousands of members, and that its own small car park cannot meet demand — especially with forthcoming national security legislation likely to restrict access further.
POSK is urging the council to retain the current Zone L arrangements, which limit restrictions to weekday working hours and allow evening and weekend visitors to park without time limits. It argues that any additional controls should target commercial vehicles rather than cultural visitors. The centre says it already encourages public transport use, but that the proposed scheme would “dramatically reduce patronage of our building and our services”.
The concerns come as Hammersmith & Fulham Council consults residents and businesses on whether to extend Zone L parking controls to 8.30am–10pm or 11pm, seven days a week, with a two-hour maximum stay. The council says residents have reported increased pressure on parking spaces due to displacement from other zones, rental vehicles occupying spaces at weekends, and new restrictions in nearby streets. There are complaints that commuters park in the zone to use Ravenscourt Park tube station. The council says the consultation is intended to “protect car parking spaces for local people”.
A petition launched by POSK supporters calls on the borough to recognise POSK’s cultural importance, explore longer parking periods for evening visitors, and consult directly with the centre before implementing any changes. At the time of writing it had gathered over 800 signatures.
POSK’s history stretches back to the 1960s, when Professor Józef Wajda began organising meetings and fundraising to create a permanent home for the Polish community in London. The centre was built on King Street after the purchase and demolition of several buildings, including a former Baptist church. Its motto — “Poland and free Poles for the benefit of Poland” — reflects its mission to preserve culture, support community life and maintain the Polish Library founded in 1942.
When asked for comment, the council referred us to the ongoing consultation, which closes at 5pm on Friday 18 September 2026.
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