Haringey Council promises to fast track extensions to Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are in disarray after parking bosses told local residents they may have to wait up to two years for consultations to start.

Last year, in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the parking nightmare they created in Crouch End in 2007, the Council announced that streets near, but not initially included, in CPZs could petition Haringey Council to be included.

The fast track process was planned to take three to four months. However, in an answer to a question tabled at the Full Council meeting this week, Haringey Council admitted that it is taking much longer to implement extensions to CPZs – it took seven months to extend the Green Lanes CPZ and eight months to introduce an increase in the Wood Green Outer CPZ.

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised Haringey Council for misleading local residents by suggesting that it could expand CPZs in four months under the fast track scheme.

Cllr Lyn Weber, Crouch End, comments:

“It is clear that Labour-run Haringey Council has failed to deliver an effective fast track scheme. The fact that it has taken nearly twice as long as planned to implement the two extensions in Wood Green and Harringay proves that Haringey Council is not succeeding.

“Local residents have been led down the garden path. Promises of a fast track scheme that would solve the parking problems in Crouch End have not materialised. Council parking bosses need to be honest with residents and come up with an approach that works.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“It is not fair to local residents to be told that if they want their roads included in CPZs that can be done within a few months but when they actually ask for it to happen they are told it will take up to two years.”