Liberal Democrats urge further action in Crouch End parking debacle

3.32.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th Oct 2007

Councillors have cautiously welcomed the first step made last Wednesday evening in an effort to solve Crouch End's parking chaos but have stressed that there must be more engagement and a full consultation with residents. In a meeting demanded by local Lib Dems to provide a voice for local residents to express their concerns, over forty representatives of local residents' groups met at Hornsey Town Hall to tell Labour Cllr Brian Haley of their anger and stress at the mess that Haringey have allowed parking to become.

Following the introduction of the Crouch End Pay and Display scheme, the extension of the Highgate and the Hillrise CPZs , the closure of the Highgate Tube Station Car Park and parking of vehicles by hire companies on residential roads, many residents are now unable to park near their homes, accept deliveries or use tradesmen. The local W5 bus route is also experiencing severe delays on the route.

Cllr Weber has been inundated with emails demanding urgent action but Haringey Council have consistently said that nothing could be done until the next financial year.

Cllr Weber (Crouch End) comments:

"Residents are at breaking point and we need action now. Thursday's meeting was a step forward in finding both interim and long term solutions.

"Too often we have only be given part of the picture. This is a thoughtful and intelligent community who want to be treated like adults - the positive mood of the meeting showed this".

Cllr Winskill (Crouch End) adds:

"If Haringey Council are saying that money is the problem, then why not use income from the Pay and Display - we have always been told it would be used for highways issues.

"Account must be also taken of key workers at local shops and schools as well those using GP's surgeries when producing a parking scheme."