Shopping complex parking pledge

Shoppers on the opening day of Westfield

The council said shoppers could clog parking bays in Shepherds Bush

A council has said it will bring in new parking controls on streets near Westfield shopping mall to prevent them from becoming a "Westfield car park".

Hammersmith and Fulham council said it would "pull out all the stops to sort out potential parking problems".

Thousands of people gathered as Europe's largest inner-city plaza opened in White City, west London.

Critics have said that residents will face "gridlocked" roads and scarce parking as shoppers visit the mall.

'No incentive'

The �1.6bn Westfield centre aims to bring 60,000 visitors per day to Shepherds Bush but it only has 4,500 parking spaces.

The council said it had already measured "parking stress" in the streets around Westfield and has asked the mall to ensure that there is "no incentive for staff or shoppers" to park in residents' parking bays in Shepherds Bush.

Councillor Nicholas Botterill, deputy leader of the council, said: "We are acutely aware that the streets around Westfield could become clogged with Westfield's shoppers and staff.

"If this does happen, we can fast track changes in the controlled parking restrictions in local streets nearest the development before Christmas.

"We will respond responsibly and flexibly to parking issues around Westfield but one thing is for sure, Shepherds Bush will not become a Westfield car park."

The council said it would observe the traffic situation for a few weeks before deciding on which areas needed new parking controls.