A Highgate councillor has welcomed moves by Haringey Council to change the ‘silly’ parking rules it has put in place for a grossly underused local car park.

The Council’s efforts follow pressure from Highgate’s Lib Dem councillors and local residents. The move, says Cllr Neil Williams, will also ease fears that the Council could attempt to build a ‘backland’ style development on the site at Tudor Close, off the Archway Road.

The car park, which serves council flats off Tudor Close, has a great excess of parking spaces, which used to be available for general local use. That was until Haringey introduced a residents’ only parking scheme at the flats, which resulted in the majority of the spaces lying empty while local residents struggled to park their cars in neighbouring Hornsey Lane Gardens and Langdon Park Road. On a typical day, says Neil Williams, there might be ten cars in the car park, with three times as many empty spaces.

Now the Council has told Cllr Williams it is to consult over the renting out of a number of spaces on Tudor Close to local residents who do not live on the estate. The Council plans a weekly charge. Neil Williams is writing to Haringey Council to say that he welcomes the move forward, and is seeking assurances on how much sought after parking will be allocated, and that residents who participate will be guaranteed a space. Mr Williams also wants money set aside to provide a garden for young children and parents on the estate, so that residents will directly benefit from the scheme.

Highgate councillor Neil Williams comments:

“This is a welcome step forward. I am optimistic that we can make better use of much needed parking, improve the Tudor Close estate, and knock on the head the possibility of new buildings on the site. We will need to look at the detail of the scheme, and I have put to the Council the need for a small amenity area so that residents at Tudor Close have an immediate benefit. I am keen to take this forward.”