The first stage of consultation on the Labour Council’s ‘Stop and Shop’ parking scheme in Muswell Hill shows that an overwhelming 98.75% of responses were for the scheme to be scrapped. Lib Dem councillors felt it was necessary to scrutinise the responses to the Council’s consultation, and found that of 724 responses to the consultation, just 9 were in favour of the proposals.

The Lib Dems are calling for the scheme to be scrapped entirely, as it is clear that there is no community support for the plans to go ahead.

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“The results are in, and there can be no arguing – the community is against these plans. To proceed now would be to steamroller over any pretence of democracy that Labour might ever have had – they must scrap the proposals. The importance of scrutinising Labour on this issue is very clear – who knows what they might have done had these results not been made public.”

Councillor Jonathan Bloch, ward councillor for Muswell Hill, comments:

“It is now time for Labour to come clean and admit that they do not have the people’s support for their proposals. The result could not be clearer, and even they cannot ignore it. Councillor Brian Haley should remember his claims that Muswell Hill people ‘don’t want a dialogue’ and that ‘All they want to do is impose their views on everyone else’. If the Labour council proceeds here, it will be quite clear who is doing the imposing.”

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I am not surprised that local people have shown so emphatically that this scheme wasn’t needed. What was needed (and how this started) were a few spaces for parking on the Colney Hatch Lane part of the Broadway where people needed to park for a few moments only and where there is almost no parking available. Parking schemes should be related to need for parking – not need to fill the Council’s coffers.”