Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign for 30 minutes of free parking on Haringey’s High Streets.
Last year, retailers on Muswell Hill Broadway reported months of poor trade after the parking charges were increased from £1.40 to £3 per hour.
The traders started a petition to lower the charges – which attracted over 5,200 signatures – and presented it to Haringey Council. Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone also wrote to the Labour-run Council and requested that the charges be lowered. Despite this, the Council refused to reduce the charges.
Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Liberal Democrats are now calling for 30 minutes of free parking on Haringey’s High Streets, to encourage people to stop and ‘drop in’ to the Borough’s independent shops, and boost their trade.
Jim Jenks, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Muswell Hill said:
“Haringey retailers need our support. But the Haringey Labour Council has, as usual, a ‘one size fits all’ approach with high parking charges throughout the Borough. We need local parking solutions that help get more people into our shops.
“We need as many people as possible to support our campaign, so we’re encouraging our supporters and residents to sign our petition and let their friends and families know about it, too.”
Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green commented:
“In my constituency, the high streets in places like Muswell Hill and Crouch End are packed with independent retailers. It sets us apart from other places which are full of bland chain stores.
“I’m afraid this refusal to listen to trader’s concerns is typical of the Labour-run Council – more interested in making a quick buck on parking fees than preserving our community assets.
“I urge anyone who wants to support independent shops – and would like to enjoy 30 minutes free parking – to sign our petition.”
Sign the petition here.
Lynne Featherstone 
I wonder what actual evidence you have to support the idea that a period of free parking will boost trade?
Recent research for London Councils, the umbrella body for London boroughs, suggests the opposite might be true.
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/news/current/pressdetail.htm?pk=1549
I assume the costs of maintaining and enforcing parking spaces will remain constant, so if free parking is introduced what other part of the council budget should be used to top up the shortfall in parking revenues?
The London Councils report also shows that shopkeepers massively overestimate the amount of their customers that arrive by car and their value to their business. Only a minority of Haringey households even have access to a car (the recent census shows a 6% reduction in car ownership in Haringey between 2001-2011). Haringey’s high streets could be much improved if they were made more pleasant for the majority of people who arrive on foot or public transport. It’s quite revealing that when searching the Haringey Lib Dems website ‘parking’ reveals 28 hits, ‘walking’ 2 and ‘cycling’ 0. So much for supporting sustainable travel.