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Following a meeting with senior council officials about the Underhill South CPZ proposal there are a number of things that are becoming increasingly apparent to us:
Senior Council officers are preparing for a massive over-development of the area, which was never even particularly mentioned or highlighted as part of the CPZ consultation as rationale
There is every likelihood that officers will rely heavily on data that was not even provided as part of the consultation process
Council officers are preparing to make 'difficult decisions', which could include running roughshod over the expressed views of residents
Officers would then justify this on the basis that any zone would be 'experimental', when people know that in practice the zone would become a permanent feature, with any changes just tweaks around the edges
Officers are predisposed to longer hours for parking zones, despite there being no clear evidence of need for this
We are now concerned that officers may decide to press ahead, based on data that was refused in several Freedom of Information Act requests. Officers claim that having this information may have swayed people's views during the consultation period. Officers have not been entirely transparent in the consultation about how they see this as a blanket solution to be implemented much more widely.
The data from the official consultation survey shows clearly that residents are opposed to the imposition of a CPZ in this area.
We do acknowledge that officers are engaged in high-level conversations with Barnet Hospital, including about them finding their own solutions that do not encroach further on residential roads. However, we would like to see more emphasis given to this and more creative thinking about how this could be done.
There are some realities that officers have not faced up to, in our view. These include:
Controlled parking zones do not create more space and areas that already have greater parking challenges may end up disappointed that this will cost them but not actually resolve the problem.
The reality that building new developments with no parking facilities might be good for developers but it shifts the problem to existing residents
Pursuing more practical approaches to roads such as Chesterfield Road, including consideration of wholesale changes that allow for more parking and easier traffic flow
Avoiding shifting the problem to the next street, which is what a new CPZ, like the existing ones, would do
Over the coming weeks, we will be developing a plan of action aimed at making our views as residents of this area known to decision-makers.
In the meantime, we would encourage you to continue letting our councillors and MP, as well as officers and us, know your views:
dan.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk
parking.consultations@barnet.gov.uk
Watch this space.
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