Barnet Council Introduces Controversial Parking Zone Amid Opposition

Residents of Colindale, a district in Barnet, are facing new parking restrictions that will be implemented from October 27, 2023. The introduction of the Colindale South Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) aims to address ongoing parking issues in the area. However, the initiative has sparked significant opposition, with hundreds of residents expressing their discontent over the all-day restrictions.

The CPZ will restrict parking on residential streets from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily. This six-month trial period has drawn criticism from local residents, including Parbin Ahmed, who has spearheaded two petitions against the scheme. Ahmed asserts that the majority of the community is unaware of the consultation process that preceded the decision and believes the restrictions are unnecessary.

According to Barnet Council’s consultation records, out of the 1,800 letters sent to residents, only 220 responses were received. Of those, 63% opposed the CPZ, while just 30% expressed support. Ahmed’s online petition has gathered 182 signatures, and a hard copy version has collected 101 signatures.

In her outreach efforts, Ahmed discovered that many residents had not received adequate notification about the consultation. “When I knocked on doors, many people were unaware there was a consultation,” she said. “The majority of residents don’t want it. There are a lot of elderly people in the area who have family and friends visiting. It’s just not needed.”

While residents acknowledge the need for some parking regulations, they argue that all-day restrictions are excessive. Ahmed suggests that limiting the restrictions to just one hour per day could alleviate parking problems without imposing undue burdens on local residents. “Yes, a few residents do have problems with people parking and going to work at the end of the street, so what we’ve suggested is that the council implement the scheme for one hour a day and see how that works,” she explained.

In response to the growing opposition, a spokesperson for Barnet Council stated, “We are introducing this CPZ after requests were received by the council to address parking problems in the area. We will assess its effectiveness, and the feedback of residents, over a six-month period before deciding whether or not to make it permanent.”

Interestingly, a similar CPZ proposal was put forward in 2017 but was ultimately rejected. Ahmed noted that while the development in the area has led to increased parking concerns, she believes a one-hour trial would suffice, as evidenced by successful implementations in other densely populated regions.

As the trial period draws closer, residents remain vigilant, hoping their voices will be heard and considered by the council. The outcome of this initiative may not only impact parking in Colindale but could also set a precedent for similar measures in other communities facing parking challenges.