Ross Lydall from the Evening Standard rings me on my mobile to ask what I think of Ken’s statement. What statement? That he is likely to raise the congestion charge to £6.00 or more. ‘No surprises there’ I say. Ken has a hole in his budget and therefore feels his usual sticky urge to put his hands in London’s pockets to get him out of poor budgeting and overspending.

In the evening, am chairing a meeting of Wood Vale residents who are concerned that they haven’t been consulted about a proposed CPZ around Highgate Station. It doesn’t include their road – but as the next road along, they may feel any knock-on effect.

The meeting has been co-organised by two residents of the road – one vehemently against CPZs and the other for them.

However, the majority of residents from Wood Vale seemed to have no great appetite to fight the current proposals which I suspect Haringey will implement on the back of a ‘yes’ to the consultation in most of the roads.

It was great to see so many residents wanting to work together constructively, regardless of the differences of opinion along the road. They decided to form a residents’ association to take this and other matters forward.

I thought they showed a very balanced approach on an issue which historically has divided communities and bred hatred. I remember during the Muswell Hill CPZ consultation getting a death threat because I wouldn’t condemn outright all CPZs – although I did condemn Haringey’s ill-researched and draconian proposals and dreadful consultation. CPZs are not intrinsically good or bad – it depends how bad the parking stress is, how good the design of the proposed scheme is and how much residents trust the council to do a good job. In Haringey – no one trusts the Council – and with good reason on their track record.