Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, has today written to the Conservative Leader of Barnet Council, demanding immediate action on parking in the North Finchley high street area, after meeting with traders and Labour Councillors at Cafe Buzz on 21^st May.

In particular, Mr Dismore has proposed as a short term step, the introduction of a temporary Traffic Order to allow 30 minutes free parking, before charges kick in.

Mr Dismore said:

“After meeting with the traders to discuss the problems of the high street, there can be no doubt that Barnet Council’s draconian parking charges, coupled with pay by phone parking, is the most serious threat to the survival of our local traders.

The recent election results must have made it clear even to the Conservative Group who are in office at the Town Hall that something must be done about parking.

Whilst the longer term answer is a full review of the parking control system in the Borough, that will take too long to give the traders  and shoppers the immediate relief they require.

As an interim measure, I am proposing that the Council immediately introduce a temporary Traffic Order, on a pilot basis, for North Finchley and two other shopping streets in Barnet, to give a period of 30 minutes grace for shoppers. This can be done very quickly if there is a will to do so. I believe that this will not result in loss of income, as the difference will be made up by shoppers returning to fill the car parks and empty parking places, which have themselves lost the council revenue.

Whilst this can only be part of the solution to parking, if tried out on a pilot basis, we will be able to see pretty soon   whether it makes a real difference to reinvigorating  the high street, which has been decimated by the Conservatives’ parking charges and the recession.”

Barnet Labour Group Leader Alison Moore, who was at the meeting said:

“The recession is hitting local residents hard, our local town centre traders are struggling to survive and the disastrous pay-by-phone parking and the hike in charges has been the last straw. Barnet’s Conservative councillors voted down our Christmas Parking amnesty proposals and rejected an opposition budget that would have kept parking charges down and put the meters back. They now need to look at this common sense proposal to get shoppers back into our town centres before it’s too late and then develop a robust economic regeneration strategy to ensure they survive and thrive.”

Cafe Buzz proprietor Helen Michael added:

“whilst the council are dragging their feet with empty promises to do something we are being put under increasing pressure by bills, rents, wages and the increasing cost of everything.  The traders are becoming more and more frustrated as are the residents whom I speak to on a daily basis.  It is becoming increasing clear that athe Conservative party are either completely out of touch with the people of Barnet or they simply don’t care.”