Mays Lane shops

The Council has introduced pay by phone parking outside the small parade of shops on Mays Lane.  This was part of the Mays Lane (Chipping Barnet D) CPZ statutory consultation, which concluded that 'paid for (cashless) parking bays would be introduced where appropriate in suitable locations to serve the community and support local businesses'.  The hours of operation are 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Our comment is that:

• The implementation does not serve the community or local businesses, which are noting negative impact

• The hours are excessive

• Payment can only be made by phone, which some people will struggle with

• There is no grace period, making it more difficult to just pop to the shops

• The implementation is disproportionate for the area

The Council took money for parking in front of the Mays Lane shops before the pay parking officially went live.  When informed of this, officers confirmed "that payments were taken in error, all payments made before the 15 December have now been refunded."

The local pet shop has now launched a petition against the charges.

The Barnet Society article 'Despair among Mays Lane traders as introduction of pay-by-phone parking charges leads to a dramatic loss in customers' can be found here.

North London News - Mays Lane Traders Lose Customers to Barnet Pay-by-Phone Parking Charges - 31 January 2026

Age UK and Loughborough University have published reports about the cashless society:

Age UK: Behind the Headlines - Short-changed: How the decline of cash is affecting older people

Age UK: Offline and overlooked

Loughborough University: UK risks leaving vulnerable people behind as it shifts more towards to cashless payments, report warns

"where are cash-dependent consumers supposed to park legally, when in many areas of the UK ticket machines only accept card payments? A truly inclusive payment system requires intentional design, embedding accessibility, user diversity and affordability into both the Vision and the roadmap"

Finance Foundation evidence: Older people 'place a high valuation' on continuing to be able to pay for parking in cash

AA - Cash remains king for parking

BBC - Pay by app 'digitally excludes older drivers'

Barnet Council - Ageing Well Health Needs Assessment 2023/24

Please complain and make your views known. Ask the Council to review their decision.

Please send to (copy all):

Parking consultations: parking.consultations@barnet.gov.uk

MP: dan.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk

Councillors: Cllr.Z.Beg@barnet.gov.uk, cllr.t.roberts@barnet.gov.uk

Council officers: craig.miller@barnet.gov.uk, alice.nugent@barnet.gov.uk, phineas.skipper@barnet.gov.uk

Underhill Residents Group: contact@underhillresidents.uk