Barnet Council Parking Charges

Here's a little quiz question for you :-

What is the purpose of parking charges in High Streets in Barnet?

A) To raise as much money as possible so senior Council officers can get a pay rise
B) To try and regulate parking so that there is a ready supply of spaces for people wishing to park

So what is the correct answer? Well if you followed the annual budget debate at Barnet Council last week, you'd have seen that there are two possible answers. Answer A seems to be the preferred answer for the Conservative Leaders of Barnet Council. Answer B is the answer which the local Lib Dems were hoping they would get. You see they proposed an amendment to have a trial period where parking in Mill Hill Broadway would be free for the first hour. This would be to allow shoppers wishing to just dash to the shops quickly for a quick pint of milk, to pick up a presecription or some stamps, to do so without having to pay for the privelidge. The amendment would fund a trial period to see if the scheme boosted business and improved parking arrangements for local shoppers.

We did a survey of local businesses in the Broadway and they unanimously agreed that we should run the trial of the proposals. We've been collecting signatures, nearly 200 on paper and approx 50 so far to the on-line petition. The local press has picked up the story and have found that we have hit upon a very popular scheme. Please read this report in the Mill Hill and Edgware Times :-

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/5049550.Traders_back_free_parking_petition/

It has been quite interesting talking to local traders. When we mentioned the scheme, several previously staunch Tory supporting businesses stated that "It was a great idea and that the local Conservatives have lost touch with their core supporters".

There is an important message for everyone. The local Council and Parliament elections are two different things. Whether you love or hate Gordon Brown or David Cameron, they have no say over issues like parking charges in Mill Hill Broadway. That is the job of your local councillors. Too many of our local Conservative politicans have simply stood for council as a stepping stone to the Houses of Parliament. They see it as a "good tick on the CV". In short they want to make a name for themselves and are not sensitive to local concerns. As far as I know five local Barnet Conservative Councillors are standing for Parliament at the  next election (one resigned two years ago, to concentrate on the more important career aspiration - a Parliamentary seat in South London). Another stood as a Euro candidate, another as a GLA representative.

With all of these distractions is it any wonder they've taken their eye off the ball locally. Councillors have used the platform to get great photo opportunities, whilst neglecting the detail of Council operations. We need to get local politics truly local again. When you cast your vote, forget Gordon Brown, forget David Cameron. You are voting for the person who is most likely to sort out local problems, listen to local concerns and care about local issues. If you know someone has done a good job, or will do a good job locally, then consider giving them your vote, even if they don't represent the party you normally support. My advice would be to give anyone who is clearly using the position as a platform to greater things a rather wide berth. Their heart is not in the job.

Which brings us back to Mill Hill. If you agree with me and you think that we should have a 1 hour free parking period in Mill Hill Broadway, to boost business, help shoppers and keep the traffic moving, please sign our petition. Even if you don't agree with us on everything, it's the only way that anyone at Barnet will take note.One thing was clear from the vote on the amendment which the Barnet Lib Dems proposed to fund a trial of the scheme. The local Conservatives don't want to know

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-free-parking-in-mill-hill-broadway.html

By the way, the Federation of Small Business have adopted a similar policy in their manifesto for small business.