Why Parking Charge Ltd lost their attempt to impose an unjust charge on me

As if there is not enough stress and aggravation in life, yesterday I had to attend Clerkenwell County Court, to settle a parking dispute between myself and Parking Charge Ltd, the company which operates a car park near the cinema in Swiss Cottage. The charge dated from the 15th October 2017. I'd taken the family to see a film at the cinema, paid six pounds for three hours with my debit card and then returned to my car. I realised that I'd gone a few minutes over the three hours, mainly due to needing to use the loo when the film finished and due to the length of the film, having to wait. I went to the machine to see what to do, there were no instructions. I went to see if there was an attendent. No one was around. I read the signage. It was totally unclear as to what to do. The implication was that if you stayed longer than three hours you had to pay a tenner, but there was no obvious option pay an extra four pounds to top up. I felt that paying another ten pounds for ten minutes parking was unfair. There was no mention of any "grace period" for overstaying. There was nothing helpful at all. After about five minutes of mulling over what to do, I thought, this is ridiculous and left.

Three weeks later, I got the following letter through the post.

Click for a readable version

I was gobsmacked. They wanted £60 for a fifteen minute overstay, of which five minutes were down to trying to figure out their bad signage. Not only that, they refused to acknowledge I'd paid a bean. A little lesson for anyone using such a service. Don't pay cash. If you pay on card, you will have an audit trail and proof. You can lose a ticket. A bank statement can be retreived.

I consulted Barnet's parking guru, Mr Mustard. He said "it's clearly wrong, ignore it". So I did. Letter after letter followed, each one was ignored, each demanded more money, it soon rose to over £200. Mr Mustard pointed me to a website that suggested they never took court action. On top of this, the charge letter was factually incorrect.

Eventually, last October, I got a cout summons. Contrary to Mr Mustards advice, they were taking me to court. I submitted my defence. I stated that I had paid for three hours, that the signage was deficient, and that the reason for my short overstay  was due to my prostate cancer condition requiring a visit to the lavatory, where there was a large queue.

The solicitors firm for Parking Charge Ltd wrote demanding proof of my medical condition. They stated that they would share this with third parties. I sent them a link to my cancer blog. That is what I am prepared to share with the world. I am not prepared to share medical records. They wrote back stating that if they required records. I stated that I would bring them to court. That was the sum and end of correspondence.

Yesterday was the big day. I arrived promptly at ten AM. I checked in. I was advisd that Parking charge had a lawyer in attendance. I had my file. Shortly after ten AM, we were ushered in before the Judge. He invited Mr Parking Charge to submit his evidence. He read out what was on the the letter above. He added that I'd made no attempt to contact them. I was then invited to submit my defence. I stated that the charge was completely defective. I had paid for three hours and had a bank statement to prove it. The solicitor for the Parking Charge Ltd claimed that this was the first they had heard of this. Given that they had a payment, this was clearly incorrect. They had also read the defence I had submitted. The Judge asked why I had not responded to their correspondence before th court papers were issued. I advised that my sister is a Barrister and that she'd  advised that as the letter was clearly defective and incorrect and I could prove that, there was no point bothering to answer it as they were clearly trying it on.

The judge then pointed out "but you admit that you were late?". I explained why. I said that the signage made no mentuon of any grace period. He asked what grace period Parking Charge Ltd operated. Their solicitor stated that "in line with insudtry practice, it is ten minutes". He stated that there were nine signs clearly detailing what needed to be done. The judge asked me about these. I said I had only seen one. I asked what the date of the pictures that had been supplied were. He then checked and they were taken nearly six months later and he noted that the signage looked brand new. The solicitor checked. He then said "well the first one was taken at the time". The judge concurred with me that the signage had not been in place at the time.

The solicitor, realising his options were running out stated I'd ignored all correspondence from his company. I asked if he had copies of the emails I'd exchanged regarding the Prostate Cancer condition. He said "Yes". I then said "You had my defence, you had ample opportunity to ask any other relevant questions. I said I'd paid, I was surprised you didn't ask for proof".

At this, the Judge, who was clearly irritated with the evidence supplied by Parking Charge Ltd, said "I've heard enough. I am going to give judgement. Mr Tichborne paid, he was most probably back to his car within the grace period, the signage was clearly not appropriate at the time. The case is dismissed". And that was that.

The solicitor for the parking company looked rather upset and wouldn't make eye contact with me. I thought I'd summarise the lessons I learned. If you overstay a ticket, you have a grace period. If you are a couple of minutes late then note this and leave immediately. Take pictures if you can to prove this.

Pay by card. If you are over the ten minutes, check all signage. If there is no instructions for top ups, this will be useful evidence. Photograph all simes, recording how long you have spent photographing the signs. if you get a charge letter, ask for details of grace period and evidence of signage explaining it. A valid defence is that you knew there was a grace period, but this was not specified, so you assumed you were in it. Offer to pay the top up fee. For a short overstay, this will be reasonable. If the overstay was longer. Offer to pay the full day rate, plus a couple of pounds for their trouble. If they reject this, they will have to justify why. The letter above is computer generated. It would cost no more than a couple of pounds to produce. State that you want details and proof of any loss suffered.

The Judge stated that by entering the car park, I had entered into a contract with them. As I had a cast iron case and he dismissed the case, it didn't matter, but I believe his summary was incorrect. You cannot enter a contract without understanding that you are. Take pictures of the outside of the car park. If there is nothing stating that by entering the car park, you are entering a contract, then you should state this and evidence it. Check the signage and check your ticket. If this does not state that this is evidence of contract, then you should state this. It is a valid argument to say that the signage was unclear as to this. If it doesn't say in big letters "read this sign, you are entering into a contract with us and these are the terms", it is far more difficult for them to make the case stick.

Had I really thought it through, I'd have made a far better job of my defence, put in my defence that the claim was baseless and I'd be asking for costs incurred. As it was I just wanted to win the case. Everyone advised me I'd win, so I didn't really think about the fact it was a huge inconvenience and cost me a pretty penny getting studio cover. I was only when I had a quick run through with Helen Michael on Monday evening, who is a solicitor as well as a cafe owner, that it even occurred to me. 

Oh and for future parkinbg queries, Mr Mustard is Barnets Parking Expert. If you have further queries, please contact him. I have a book to write about rock and roll. 

Mill Hill residents beware! Barnet Council CPZ permits not renewed automatically

Please be aware that Barnet Council changed their parking permit system last April and your Saracens CPZ parking permit may not be renewed automatically as last year. Phone Barnet’s Parking Services on 020 8359 7446 to renew. This cannot be done on-line without the PIN Number they send out with renewal letters, because you will not have received such a letter. You will need to know your current permit number when you phone!

We suggest that all Barnet residents keep an eye on their permit as we've heard of cases all over the borough of residents not getting renewal reminder letters. If you forget, it will cost you!

Barnet Council and parking enforcement

Many apologies to the readers of the Barnet Eye. I missed this press release from Barnet Council, posted on Xmas Eve, which tells us on what days parking restrictions are enforced -

http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/659/parking_restrictions_in_barnet_during_the_christmas_period

Why this wasn't published a couple of weeks before the holiday period and shared with the press, so we could plan our visits to friends and family accordingly. I for one thought Barnet Council enforced CPZ's on Bank holidays and as such had friends parking miles away on Boxing day and yesterday. As ever Barnet cannot do the simple things sensibly.

Whilst on the subject of parking restrictions, we had a high street parking amnesty in high streets for Saturdays in December. This measure was designed as a way of "helping the high street". Now as the Council clearly thinks High Streets are good for the community and should be helped, then surely the question must be asked "why only Saturdays in December?". If healthy High Streets are good for the community and free parking on Saturdays helps them in December, then why are High Streets being clobbered for the rest of the year?

Barnet Council uses parking as a cash cow. There policy is like a leech, draining blood from the High Street, making it ever harder for traders to make a living. As such the High Streets are ethnically cleansed of independent shops, small traders and family run cafe's. In there place we get bookies, estate agents, fried chicken outlets and estate agents. I don't know about you, but I for one don't find a High Street full of such outlets to be healthy.

Up until 2010, Barnet had reasonably sensible parking policies. You could park cheaply in High Streets,paying with coins at Pay and Display machines. After the 2010 council election, the Conservative run council, under parking supremo Brian Coleman decided (rather foolishly) to declare war on local High Streets and motorists. They abolished pay and display, hiked up costs and implemented massive hikes to CPZ parking permits. Coleman paid for this in 2012, losing his seat on the GLA (and the fat salary that went with it). By alienating a formerly staunch Tory community of small business owners, Andrew Dismore stormed into office, turning a 20,000 Tory majority into a Labour majority of the same margin.

This year we have a general election. Our local Tory MP's Matthew Offord and Mike Free have been highly supportive of Brian Colemans parking policies. Neither have lifted a finger to help small businesses locally. Local business owners, such as Helen Michael at Cafe Buzz in Finchley, have ditched a lifelong association with the Conservatives in exasperation at their lack of interest in the small business community.

We only get elections every five years for Parliament. It gives us a chance to boot out the likes of Freer and Offord when they don't do their job. Until May, we have their ear in a way we wouldn't normally. So my advice is this. If you think the Barnet Tories parking policies are damaging local business, tell Mr Freer or Mr Offord when they knock on your door. Tell them that if they don't sort it out by May, you will vote for someone else. They will probably tell you that they have no power over what the council does. This is nonsense. Both Freer and Offord are senior local politicians and work hand in hand with their council colleagues to deliver what they consider to be "Conservative Policies". If the local Tories think that their policies will damage their MP's chances (both seats are marginal), they will pull their finger out.

You may wonder why our MP's are not sympathetic to small business? Mike Freer worked for Barclays Bank and Matthew Offord worked for the BBC before they became MP's. Does this give you a small clue?

Barnet Labour launch manifesto parking pledges (Press Release from Barnet Labour Party)

Barnet's Labour councillors are launching their package of parking pledges for their local election 2014 manifesto at 10am this Saturday 9 November on Mill Hill Broadway.

 

The package of parking pledges that Labour will implement straight away if elected next year in May are:

 

·         Labour will give you 30 minutes free parking in our town centres. The Barnet Tories drove people out of the high streets with their new parking regime. We’ll help you back and support our traders with a 30 minute free parking period.

 

·         Labour will bring back cash parking. Labour will enable all current card only meters to take cash.

 

·         Labour will introduce an Oyster-style ‘Barnet Card’ to pay for parking. Pay-by-phone parking doesn’t work for everyone! We’ll develop the card service over time to offer residents discounts and widen it’s use.

 

·         Labour will consult residents and make parking enforcement fair. Unlike the Tories, we’ll ensure that parking arrangements work for local people.

 

·         Labour will give you free parking every weekend in December. Every year we have pressed the Council to give residents and shops a parking amnesty over Christmas. If elected, we’ll stop arguing about it with the Tories - we’ll just do it.

 

·         Labour will also scrap the free Councillors’ parking permits that the Conservatives awarded themselves.  If you can’t park for free, no Councillor should be able to either.

 

The pledges reflect residents' views from surveys conducted by the Labour Group over the last few weeks. On a sample of just under 1,000 surveys returned, 72% of people raised parking, with a majority calling for a free parking period and more options to pay including cash.

 

Barnet's Labour councillors have designed their parking pledges around what residents tell them they want to see, because Labour believe that above all elected representatives should listen to and consult the people who elect them.

 

Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said: "A Labour council will listen to local people, and on parking we have heard what residents want loud and clear. We promise to consult residents every year as part of the annual budget process to make sure that, under a Labour council, parking policy in Barnet works for local people. This pledge is just one of many we’ll be making between now and the election next May. We’re going to make sure that, with Labour, this is a Council which works for local residents."

 

Labour's Environment & Parking Spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman said: "The Conservatives treated residents as a cash cow, and have created a parking nightmare for our traders and town centres.  By cutting the cost of parking and bringing back cash payments combined with fair enforcement, we will encourage residents to use local shops and businesses.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Barnet Eye is pleased to see that the Barnet Labour Party has launched a small business and resident friendly parking policy for the 2014 Council Election. We believe this could decisively swing the election in favour of Labour, given the complete lack of trust in the Conservatives parking policies. 

In the run up to the 2014 Council Elections we will feature all interesting press releases from all parties with a short commentary in this format. The Barnet Eye is not alligned to any Political Party in Barnet. 

Saracens match day CPZ review - Democracy? Don't make me laugh

From the Barnet Council Website

http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5001

----------------------------------------------------------------

Decisions:

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Review of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone in the vicinity of Allianz Park (Barnet Copthall Stadium). 

The Committee welcomed the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Dean Cohen, Pam Wharfe, Director for Place and Neil Richardson, Highways Manager, Traffic and Development who were in attendance to present the item. 

Officers reported that whilst the scheme was largely unchanged, there had been some amendments to signage following feedback from Ward Members.  Members were advised that Saracens would be improving publicity around match days, creating a list of frequently asked questions and undertaking proactive community engagement. 

Officers advised the Committee that any PCNs issued incorrectly could be claimed back by residents in the zone (e.g. permit holders who were not displaying their permits during controlled hours).  It was suggested that the registration number of vehicles in the CPZ zone should be registered on a database and made available to Civil Enforcement Officers to ensure that Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were not incorrectly issued to permit holders.  

The Committee were addressed by Councillor Sury Khatri, a Mill Hill Ward Member.  He reported that he had submitted a number of questions and comments on the scheme which had not resulted in any amendments.  He noted that his suggestion regarding the introduction of electronic signage which could vary CPZ hours on an event by event basis had been ruled out on cost grounds. 

Councillor Khatri highlighted that only 6.8% of residents had responded to the consultation and suggested that this was not a representative sample of residents in the CPZ. 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The Committee note the update on the Review of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone in the vicinity of Allianz Park (Barnet Copthall Stadium) as set out in the report and above.

2.         The Committee recommend that the Council and Saracens develop a Communications Plan to ensure that residents in the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone are aware of match days and restrictions.

3.         The Committee recommend that there be a review of Event Day Controlled Parking Zone signage, including an exploration of variable electronic signage options.

4.         Officers be recommended to create a database include details of all households and vehicles with a registered permit in the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone to prevent the incorrect issuing of Penalty Charge Notices to residents. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there you go. A democratically elected Councillor has had his suggestions ignored. The idea of electronic signage has been ruled out on grounds, when the Mill Hill Residents were told that Saracens RFC would foot any bill. Is this Democracy? Is there any such thing as transparency? Don't be stupid. This is Barnet

North Fincley regeneration meeting - or how not to spend £1.6 million

So at 6.30pm yesterday, I turned up in North Finchley to go to the Arts Depot to find out about the plans to regenerate North Finchley. Parking campaigner Helen Michael had invited me along to hear how we'd be allowed to spend £1.6 million of our own money, to boost the local High Street. I've been doing some research into the Outer London fund as a background to the trip. When Sayy, the consultant who is leading the program stood up she announced "Boris has given us £1.6 million to spend improving the High Street". I was a little bit irritated by this assertion. As far as I can make out from the GLA/Mayors finances, the money has been removed from the police budget to be reallocated to splash around the Boroughs, to fund areas that bid for cash, to generally tart the place up.

We've already had a substancial amount of money in Barnet. A large grant was given to Barnet, to improve the area around Barnet Church. Has this been a huge success? Not from what I can see or from what the locals tell me. Is taking money from police budgets, to "improve" High Streets a good way to spend our money? Again I am not convinced. Sally further irritated me with a reference to "mad old buggers beating the same drums" as a reference to people talking about issues in the locality.  (Note : Sally has contacted me to correct this - She says she said "mad old buggers banging on the same old drum" - I must have misheard her)  This irritated me on two levels. Firstly, if a problem exists and the council have failed to acknowledge it, then you have to "beat the same drum" it isn't madness, it is the only way you ever get anything done. let me give you an example. My father was a pilot for bomber command. These brave mens sacrifice was never recognised. No memorial and no campaign medal. Only in the last year has this terrible decision been overturned. My Dad died in 1987, and so it was too late for him and about 90% of the survivors. It is only mad old buggers beating the same drum that sorted it. The other level it upset me on is that I run a music studio and I have about 200 customers who are "mad old buggers who've been beating the same drum" for many a year". Nothing wrong with mad old buggers, especially drummers. Local bloggers also were referred to (as an irritation with lots of energy - thanks team ! ).

She then talked about unlocking the private and charity sectors, dividing large shops into smaller units and improving training and skills. Sally informed us that she doesn't like meetings and finds them draining. I thoroughly agree with her. I've been to hundreds of meetings about Barnet, just like this one and yes, she couldn't be more correct.

Next up we had Tracy Cooper of the Arts Depot. She talked about getting the word around about all of the great things the Arts Depot do. It is a fantastic space and a great resource. I don't think we need a grant from the Mayor to do this. She is right that the people of Barnet by and large are oblivious to what is on at the Arts Depot. It has always amazed me that they have never sought to work with bloggers etc to promote the shows etc that they have on. Check there Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/artsdepot - the last tweet promoting an arts event was the 22nd Feb, they should be tweeting their program on a daily basis. They currently have 3,603 followers. This is a derisory total for such a prestigious venue and shows a real lack of ambition to promote the place. Here you go guys, a free plug for your website. I'd urge everyone to keep an eye on the place as they do have good show.

Then we had Brenda Goldberg. Tracey is a lady who has got involved for all the right reasons. She talked about knitting groups, grandma and toddler groups and other community activities which would generate a sense of community. Tracey's heart is in the right place and we need people with her motivations to step up.

Next up was Helen Michael, owner of Cafe Buzz. Helen spoke about local community, then she let slip she wasn't allowed to talk on the subject of parking. A visible hiss went up. She outlined many positives for North Finchley and asked for people to get involved.

Then Sally lead the Q&A. I don't think this went to plan. Paul Shea of Tally Ho Discount raised parking. He stated that we've seen a 20-30% drop in High Street trade since the abolition of pay and display parking. Sally said this was all very well but outside the scope of the meeting.

A local architect asked why he hadn't been approached to contribute and who had selected the architects (who are not Barnet based). I couldn't understand the answer, it involved a transparent process and there being nothing to hide. The company chosen are MUF architects (unrelated to the diving school I believe), who are based in EC1 http://www.muf.co.uk/contact-2 - I'd prefer the work to have been allocated locally, but hey what do I know. There was also  a quesion raised about the consulants fees and what percentage of the £1.6 million would this take up. Sally told us she gets £1,000 a month. Another lady told us her firm were getting £68,000. So we have identified a minimum of £82,000. I'd have preferred a lump sum figure.

Another question was asked about who decides how the money is spent. Again this was most unclear and no satisfactory answer was given. I am all for such funds, but I am always worried when there seems to be little accountability or democratic control.

There was also some disquiet amongst the disabled members of the audience at the proposal for trees to be planted outside the Arts Depot. They felt these may make accessibility more difficicult.

I also spoke. I explained that Barnet Council has failed to exploit  the opportunity to engage with the local community via social media as they have an overriding need to control everything. I stated that I've invited councillors to write guest blogs on numerous occasions to no avail. I explained that the decision to exclude parking from the remit was nonsense. I even gave Dan Hope, blogger from the Barnet Bugle a plug for the sterling work he does videoing the council. The point is, If they invested in new cash pay and display meters this would be a massive improvement and boost trade far more than a  few trees. The audience agreed, but the people with the dosh didn't. In Camden & other London boroughs, bloggers are invited to talk to the council and are the first to recieve press releases. Here they would strangle us if they could. (This morning I had breakfast with Helen Michael at Cafe Buzz. Paul Shea from Tally Ho Discount came in and said that Barnet now resembles North Korea).

At the end I was approached by a nice chap who chastised me for my negative attitude. I explained the history of the abolition of pay and display and why the scheme would fail unless this was addressed. I thena asked who he was. It turned out he worked for Boris.

Who am I? I am just a mad, sad bugger who keeps banging the same drum. What mandate do I have? None at all. Who listens to me? Well actually from the response I got, I rather suspect that quite a few people do.

This may all sound negative. I hope Sally does a good job and regenerates North Finchley. I just think that unless she persuades the council to properly engage with local people, it is a complete waste of time and cash and the money would have been better spent on coppers who could nick a few criminals and put a lid on street crime, which is becoming a scourge in Barnet. For what it's worth, I had a chat with Labour GLA rep Andrew Dismore and he agreed with everything I had to say.

Alan Schneiderman - Parking changes too little too late

Footage from last nights council meeting. Alan Scniederman dismisses parking announcement as "too little, too late"


Thanks top TheMarathon28 for footage

Barnet Council Parking Policies - fleecing the motorist

Barnet Council roads supremo, Brian Coleman stated his priority was "Roads, Roads, Roads" when he took up the post, following his disaster riddled year as Mayor. He's hardly been in the job and his own parking enforcement staff are in mutiny over the the "sharp practices" abounding in Barnet Council. The purpose of these is to fleece the car driver. As a result staff are working under terrible stress and sickness is becoming more and more commonplace.

I have been passed a selection of emails detailing these. I have put on on our sister blog, the Future Shape leaks blog. The leaks blog today reached a milestone with it's 1,000th visitor in less than a month since it's relaunch.

http://barnetfutureshape.blogspot.com/2010/10/barnet-council-car-parking-enforcement.html

If you are a motorist in Barnet and you've had a ticket recently, check this email out. It is truly unbelievable.  Amongst the shocking revelations is the fact that over half of the Boroughs pay and display machines were out of service and targets for ticketing have been issues, which is banned.
 
Nick Walkley received this email a couple of weeks ago. Several more have followed.  Sadly rather than addressing the issues in the email, several Conservative Councillors are using it as a way to justify outsourcing the service. This will mean even more tickets and even more sharp practices.

Don't say you haven't been warned. Mr Walkley is coridally invited to respond to this email in the form of a guest blog here. It is high time the secrecy culture in Barnet was abolished and the likes of Coleman and Walkley started serving the people who pay their wages, rather than treating us like mushrooms.w

Chase Lodge Development - Kentish Town FC - A few facts

I have been asked to clarify a few facts regarding Kentish Town FC and their proposed move from Copthall Sports Stadium, to the Chase Lodge Sports Ground next door. Conservative Councillor John Hart made the following statement to local press :-

Residents are already unhappy with the amount of parking in Page Street on weekends for people going to play sport, so this would make things worse still.

I believe that before local politicians start speaking about local issues and worrying local residents, they should check their facts. As Mr Hart hasn't bothered to check his facts, let me spell out to him what the facts are. Kentish Town FC already play at Copthall Stadium, which is next door to Chase Lodge. There will be no extra local traffic. If you click on this link to Kentish Town FC's fixture list, you will see that there attendances for games at Copthall Stadium in March have been 17, 28 and 21.

Kentish Town FC play their fixtures at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.  The key times when parking is an issue is Saturday and Sunday mornings when the pitches at Chase Lodge are currently used to capacity. Unless there is a change to the laws of football, to increase the number of players in a team from 11 to 50, there is no likelyhood of the proposals causing more problems. What will happen is that the facilities will be improved for local children.

As to the issue of development on Green Belt Land. I agree that this is a concern. I strongly support any proposal to strengthen Green Belt Legislation, to ensure that Green Belt land cannot be concreted over. I support organisations such as the Mill Hill Preservation Society who fight to preserve the nature of Mill Hill. I cannot understand why Mr Hart has been so vocal in his opposition to a football club, who get 28 people watching them, when he has said nothing about a recently opened tourist attraction on Mill Hill Green Belt (without planning permission) which has caused parking gridlock on the Ridgeway and will attract thousands of visitors every day in the summer. Could it be because the Tourist attraction is owned by a senior member of the Hendon Conservative Association?

If Mr Hart and the Local Conservatives really cared about the Green Belt, they would have amended the UDP to make the Green Belt safe and make it impossible for schemes which might damage it to progress. They have chosen to neglect this. Last year the Conservative Council even suggested passing the buck for Green Belt protection back to Central Government.

The reports in the local press talk about Stadiums and hundreds of people. Kentish Town FC play in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and their biggest crowd this month was 28 people. They already play at Copthall Stadium.  There are genuine issues with parking in the locality on a Saturday and Sunday  morning. This is the responsibility of Conservative Council to sort out (an issue Mr Hart and his colleagues have done nothing about). They could easily do this by getting the local teams using Chase Lodge to rent parking spaces in Copthall School, bringing some extra revenue for the school. This is what is called a win-win arrangement. Sadly all we get is our local Conservative Councillors scaring the living daylights out of local residents with ill informed scare stories.

Daylight robbery, Barnet Council style

Guess which Local authority stings it's residents hardest for parking fees. Yup, our very own "motorist friendly" Barnet Council. Now as everyone in Barnet knows, parking charges are not used to ensure that parking is well managed. It is a stealth tax used to rob motorists who clearly have no choice. I went to a Leader Listens business breakfast last year. The guest speaker was the absolutely excellent Mr Tom Nathan, managing director of Brent Cross shopping centre. Mr Nathan explained that free parking was a key to the success of Brent Cross. You can shop till you drop at Brent Cross and you don't pay a penny. I'm all for business friendly policies and if it helps Mr Nathan and his tenants, great. The trouble is, that whilst Brent Cross has someone who understands business and the needs of shoppers running it's parking policies, Barnet Council doesn't. You see, if you want to park in Mill Hill Broadway to buy a pint of milk, you have to pay for the honour. As a result, shoppers are robbed and business suffers. Surely any sensible council would let short term car parking operate on the same basis as Brent Cross. Of course we need to discourage commuters from using the spaces, but we need a happy medium. Most people park for less than 1 hour, so let people park for the first hour for free. This would help business and help hard pressed motorists.

Next Saturday, the 30th January, I will be out with some Lib Dem colleagues, collecting signatures for a petition to the Tory Council to reform parking charges, to take into account local business and the motorist. We will be in Mill Hill Broadway between 10am and 11:30am. Please add your signature to the petition. Even if you are a Tory or a Labour voter and you strongly dislike Lib Dems, I'd suggest you sign if you agree with the petition, as a big response is the only way that we'll ever get the council to change it's policy. If you'd like to help us with this campaign to reform parking, please email me by CLICKING HERE.

Surprise Surprise - Free after three parking doesn't count in Burnt Oak

Barnet Council made a big song and dance of their "free after three" parking scheme for the Boroughs High Streets. The idea was to promote trade for local shops. Let me quote a little sentence from the press release.

The initiative - called ‘Free after Three’ – will give residents free parking on all council pay and display machines and in all council car parks. It will run from Monday 7 December to Sunday 3 January 2010.

Sadly there was a little piece of smallprint that many people missed

Other parking restrictions, such as single and double yellow lines, and residents’ parking zones, will still apply.

As a result of this, many traders in Burnt Oak found that their customers cars were ticketed by traffic wardens when various restrictions in the area kicked in at 5.30pm. The one group who were fully aware of this were the wardens who turned up en mass at 5.30 and issued stacks of tickets. Parking restrictions and yellow lines were originally brought in to keep the traffic flowing and stop dangerous parking. Now it is a cash cow for local authorities. Barnets Conservative administration makes a song and dance of its "motorist friendly" policy. By this they mean removing road humps on side roads. When it comes to milking motorists for every last penny, they are decidedly unfriendly. Barnet make more in parking fees and fines than any other Borough. Like many people in Barnet, I have to pay for a parking permit. For the privelidge of the right to park outside my house between 10am and 11am, I pay for an annual permit. I pay the same as other residents where the restriction applies between 9am and 5pm. In effect I pay for a parking regulation scheme for Marks and Spencers car park overspill in Mill Hill Broadway. I accept that Barnet Council has to regulate it's parking, but it seems to me that the very last consideration in all of this is the motorist. I wonder how much grit the £3.5 raised by these dodgy schemes would buy. I think we'd find it easier to stomach if we knew that the money was put back into roads. Given the number of pot holes in Barnets streets it is clear that this is the last thing they'd actually spend the money on.