tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62753689815615531802024-03-13T15:10:04.619+00:00Barnet CPZ ActionFighting Barnet Council's CPZ risesBarnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-9321172559943784382014-12-22T20:06:00.000+00:002014-12-22T20:06:45.977+00:00The final piece of good news<h3>
<b>A message from David Attfield</b></h3>
Agreement has finally been reached with Barnet Council for the payment of my legal costs - nearly 18 months after the High Court ruled in my favour and declared Barnet Council's parking charges unlawful.<br />
<br />
Barnet Council will be paying £155,000 for my legal costs. The good news is that this allows us to keep the promise we made at the start of the campaign - that we would aim to return larger donations at least in part. In the New Year we will be contacting donors to outline the arrangements for returning money to them.<br />
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It gives me no pleasure that, at a time when Council finances are stretched and services are under threat, the Council has senselessly incurred such a large liability. I say "senselessly" because:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>The case was won on exactly the basis that I had outlined to the Council at the very start. The Council had their eyes wide open. </li>
<li>At the start of the claim, I offered to limit my legal costs to £15,000 if the Council agreed likewise. Their rejection of this offer meant that I was liable to tens of thousands of pounds in legals costs were I to lose. To protect me, I had to take out legal costs insurance, which was only available if I engaged independent solicitors and barristers. This was the only way left for me to bring the claim - but as the Council would have known, it was a very expensive way. <span style="color: red;"><b>If the Council had accepted my offer, £140,000 of public money would have been saved. </b></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>A Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year to all of our many supporters.</b></div>
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-5427207002873661322014-09-28T20:20:00.001+01:002014-09-29T15:36:03.680+01:00Barnet Launch Consultation on New Parking Policy<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now Barnet want to hear from you<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Barnet Council has launched a consultation on a new draft parking policy. You can access the policy document and take part in the consultation using this link: </span><a href="http://engage.barnet.gov.uk/development-regulatory-services/parking-policy-consultation/consult_view" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">consultation survey</a></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Unbelievably, the policy document is over 70 pages long. It is full of unobjectionable (and rather vague) aspirations about keeping the traffic flowing, the roads safe and parking convenient but the consultation is still an opportunity for you to make it clear what your priorities are. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> On the subject of CPZ parking, the Council highlight that resident should on the whole be able to park near their homes. And they accept that charges cannot be set in order to raise revenue, which is the opposite of what they argued in the Court Case. </span><br /><br /><br /> The ongoing saga of the legal costs <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Even though it is over a year since the Court gave judgment in our favour, the costs of the court case have still not be sorted out. It now looks as though there will have to a further hearing just so the question of how much Barnet must pay towards the legal costs is resolved. That hearing will be in December.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">All this means that we still do not know if we will be in a position to return the larger donations that we received, at least in part. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-66473810410610521672014-03-09T22:14:00.001+00:002014-03-09T22:14:02.340+00:00CPZ Charges: no increases plannedOne of the questions we were asked back when we launched our legal action was whether, even if won, the Council may simply try again to increase CPZ parking charges for residents.<br />
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It seems for the moment at least that neither the current administration nor the Lib Dem or Labour oppositions plan any increases (perhaps they have one eye on the upcoming elections?). The Council has recently published their proposed fees and charges for next year and the good news therefore is that no increases for CPZ residents are planned. You can see details of all of the the proposals and also respond to the consultation here:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0068cf; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.933332443237305px; text-decoration: underline;">http://engage.barnet.gov.uk/environment-and-operations/street-scenes-fees-charges-2014-15/consult_view</span> <br />
<br />
Despite charges being frozen or being subject only to modest increases, there are still a few ugly remnants of the old discredited parking regime:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>As if moving house wasn't expensive enough, you have to factor in the cost of a parking suspension. Barnet charge a £63.50 flat charge PLUS £63 each day - so a minimum of £126.50. If you have a removal van, you will need 2 or 3 parking spaces to be suspended, so you're looking at around £300 or £400. Don't even think of needing a skip outside your home for a couple of weeks!</li>
<li>Any change to a parking permit or requesting a refund costs £21. So there's no point cancelling a permit which has 6 months or less to run as it will cost you more than the refund you are entitled to.</li>
<li>A 3 month temporary permit (useful perhaps if your child is home from college for the summer) costs a truly ridiculous £252.</li>
</ul>
Whilst we have won the war over the cost of residents' permits and visitor vouchers, these hangovers from the old charging regime are still hugely unfair. <b> If you agree, please let Barnet know by responding to the consultation by 20 March. </b><br /> <br />
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-84904137367489171772013-11-30T09:02:00.002+00:002013-11-30T09:02:55.849+00:00Barnet Council (finally) invites you to have your say - 9 December<b>In what appears to be a genuine attempt to understand the concerns of Barnet residents, the Council has appointed a research company to hold some focus groups with residents to discuss parking issues in the borough (High Street and other parking as well as residents parking). </b><br />
<br />
They are specifically looking for a number of our supporters to attend a group on Monday 9 December in Whetsone from 4.30pm to 6pm. The group will comprise 8 residents so there should be plenty of opportunity to put your views across.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in taking part, <b>please email us at barnetcpz@gmail.com.</b> We will pass your details on to the research company (Alpha Research) who will then be in touch direct.<br />
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If you are interested in participating but can't make the session on 9 December, please also contact us as other sessions may become available. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Other news:</b><br />
<br />
We are still waiting for the payment of our legal costs by Barnet Council to be finalised so that we can begin the process of repaying what we can to supporters who made donations of £20 or more. There is progress on this front but realistically the issue may not be resolved until the new year because Barnet are (understandably) subjecting the legal fees we incurred to a good deal of scrutiny. Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-63122450954236183592013-10-13T11:15:00.000+01:002013-10-13T11:15:24.832+01:00Are you in a similar situation? And Barnet aren't following the spirit of the judgment. <h3>
Problems with other Councils</h3>
We've received many emails from people up and down the country letting us know of problems they are experiencing with their councils. Often people are seeking our advice on what they should do. It's clear that many councils are alienating residents through their actions, particularly over parking.<br />
<br />
We're sorry but we're not able to provide advice about other situations. In part, this is due to time constraints but also because each situation is unique and usually complex. We would however just make the following points:<br />
<br />
1. If you are thinking of challenging parking charges imposed by your council, look to see if there is actual hard evidence that the council is motivated by raising revenue. We won our case against Barnet Council, and felt confident enough to bring it, because of clear undisputed evidence that the council raised parking charges for the minority residents in CPZs in order to raise money and thereby keep the council tax down. Other challenges against Westminster and Camden failed because there wasn't this sort of clear evidence of revenue raising.<br />
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2. In most cases, the way to challenge the actions of your council is to bring a judicial review action. This is a legal action brought in the High Court. These need to be brought promptly, within three months at most of the decision which you are challenging having been taken. High Court actions are also costly (tens of thousands of pounds at least) and recent changes mean that you are now unlikely to take advantage of a "no win, no fee" agreement with your solicitors in order to help bring a claim. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Barnet don't follow the spirit of the judgment</h3>
<div>
A supporter has told us that Barnet are refusing to reimburse residents who bought half day visitor vouchers for £2.20 even though the effect of the Court ruling is that residents should only have been charged £1 for a whole day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Strictly Barnet may be right in that half day vouchers (introduced a year after the other increases), were not technically part of the legal action. But surely if the effect of the court ruling is to reduce the cost of a full day voucher to £1, the Council should follow the spirit of the judgment and also reimburse people who bought half day vouchers so that they too only pay £1? </div>
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-17599669893632157772013-10-04T22:26:00.002+01:002013-10-09T19:50:03.255+01:00<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">
Update: 4 October 2013</span></h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Progress towards sorting out the costs of the legal action is, unfortunately, very slow.</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Barnet Council has been ordered to pay the costs of the legal action, this may take months to resolve. This is because the losing party in litigation (in this case Barnet) invariably wants to scrutinise the legal costs of the winning party (David Attfield) carefully, and may want to challenge aspects of the legal bill. If the amount to be paid cannot be agreed, this will have to be referred to a specialist costs judge to resolve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are of course committed to repaying as much of the donated money as we can but are unable to do so until we receive from Barnet the money we have had to pay out (in particular the cost of the premium of the legal costs insurance we took out which is how most of the donated money was spent).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The delay in sorting out how much of the donated money can be returned is frustrating but please bear with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, a reminder: Barnet Council <u>will not</u> be contacting households who are entitled to be refunded the amount that they have been over-charged for parking permits and visitor vouchers over the past couple of years. You have to apply to the council for a refund.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is what you need to know:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What can be reclaimed?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Only the <u>additional</u> cost to the price of residents's parking permits and visitor vouchers can be reclaimed. So, if you purchased 10 visitor vouchers at £4 each, you can claim £30 since you should have been charged £1 for each voucher or £10 in total. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have paid £100 for your parking permit in 2011 and in 2012, then you can claim £120 since you should have been charged only £40 in each of 2011 and 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do I claim? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You should fill out an e-form on Barnet Council’s website, providing details of your name, telephone number, address, permit ID, if they have it, and car registration number.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alternatively, you can email the council at <a href="mailto:CPZParkingRefunds@barnet.gov.uk">CPZParkingRefunds@barnet.gov.uk</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or write to Parking Team, CPZ Parking Refunds, London Borough of Barnet, Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This link will take you to the Council's website where you can access the e-form. <a href="http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge">http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge</a></span><br />
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-89978049534582217332013-08-20T22:10:00.003+01:002013-08-25T19:40:22.458+01:00We won, but what now? <h2>
Refunds</h2>
In light of the High Court ruling that Barnet Council's 2011 CPZ price increases were unlawful, the Council has said it will reimburse residents who have been overcharged.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>However, the Council will not be automatically refunding residents who have been overcharged. Residents will need to submit a claim to the Council.</b><br />
<br />
<b>What can be reclaimed?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Only th<span style="font-family: inherit;">e add</span>itional cost to the price of residents's parking permits and visitor vouchers can be reclaimed. So, if you purchased 10 visitor vouchers at £4 each, you can claim £30 since you should have been charged £1 each or £10. <br />
<br />
If you have paid £100 for your parking permit in 2011 and in 2012, then you can claim £120 since you should have been charged only £40 in each of 2011 and 2012.<br />
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<b>How do I claim? </b><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You should fill out an e-form on Barnet Council’s website, providing details of their name, telephone number, address, permit ID, if they have it, and car registration number.</span></span><br />
<div class="" style="border: 0px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alternatively, they can email the council at CPZParkingRefunds@barnet.gov.uk.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Or write to Parking Team, CPZ Parking Refunds, London Borough of Barnet, Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP.</span> </span><br />
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This link will take you to the Council's website where you can access the e-form. <a href="http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge">http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge</a><br />
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<h2>
Money Donated to Barnet CPZ Action</h2>
Barnet Council have been ordered to pay David Attfield's legal costs which we hope will enable us to return larger donations (£20 or more) at least in part. However, the process of assessing and agreeing how much the Council should pay can take weeks or even months, so please be patient.<br />
<br />
It is unlikely that all of the legal costs will be recovered from Barnet as there may be technical reasons why the council will argue that they shouldn't have to pay some elements of the legal costs incurred. Also, we incurred significant costs running our campaign, in particular for printing leaflets. Barnet will not be paying these. All this means unfortunately that, for the moment, we do not know how much of the donated money we will be able to return.<br />
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We will of course keep you updated. Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-7321320536751428112013-08-02T21:55:00.000+01:002013-08-03T00:47:10.715+01:00Council accepts Court ruling: CPZ charges revert to pre-increase levels The Leader of Barnet Council, Richard Cornelius, confirmed today that the Council will not appeal against last week's High Court ruling which found the Council's 2011 CPZ price increases to be unlawful. He also apologised for the fact that the CPZ increases were implemented without going through the proper process. You can read the council's statement here: <a href="http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge">http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge</a><br />
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This is great news for everyone who has supported our campaign and puts an end to the legal uncertainty following last week's High Court victory. It means that:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Barnet's CPZ charges will revert back to their pre-increase levels (£40 for a permit and £1 for a visitor voucher)</li>
<li>Residents will be able to claim refunds of the amount that they have been overcharged for permits and visitor vouchers. Details of how to do this are set out in the council's statement: <a href="http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge">http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/345/statement_on_cpz_legal_challenge</a></li>
<li>Realistically, before long, the Council will want to introduce new price increases since the charges have now reverted back to what they were in 2006. But we trust the council to take heed of the High Court judgment and that residents will not face the prospect of a £4 charge for a visit that may last only 30 minutes. </li>
<li>The Council will pay David Attfield's legal costs, enabling donated money to be returned at least in part. This will take time, so please bear with us. </li>
</ul>
Our fight has drawn to a successful conclusion. In large part this is due to the support and encouragement of the hundreds of people who have backed our campaign. Indeed, without the financial backing we received, it simply would not have been possible to pursue a legal action against the Council. Thank you to everyone who has helped bring this about.<br />
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Whilst we are celebrating our success, we are also mindful that the Council has a large logistical exercise to undertake and that there will be financial consequences for the Council. We would encourage people to be patient in their applying for refunds - we are sure the Council will be doing all they can to deal with these efficiently. We also sincerely hope that the Council's contingency planning means that it can deal with this set back without an impact on services. But the truth is that the Council is the author of its misfortune and had opportunities along the way to resolve this issue at considerably less inconvenience and cost to it. <br />
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-87523539826130314992013-07-31T12:13:00.000+01:002013-07-31T12:20:15.827+01:00Media and our Petition<ul style="background-color: white;"></ul>
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<br /><ul>
<li>You may be interested to hear that David will be on today's Jeremy Vine Radio Two Show at 1.30pm in case you are in a position to listen. </li>
</ul>
<br /><ul>
<li>As you know, Barnet may file an Appeal by the end of this week. Let's show them that residents do not want their hard earned money wasted on this course of action, and they should accept the Judgment given on 22nd July by Mrs Justice Lang DBE. If you have not yet signed the petition, you can do so here <a href="http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/CPZAction/">http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/CPZAction/</a>. This is not limited to Barnet residents, so please ask all your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues to get on and sign. This is people power in motion. We need thousands of signatures. </li>
</ul>
<br /><ul>
<li>David appeared in the Daily Mail yesterday (rather embarrassingly, he says, called the "superhero of suburbia"!) so, for anyone that missed it, you can read it here <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381593/Fed-soaring-residents-parking-charges-Read-mans-struck-blow-motorists-everywhere.html.">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381593/Fed-soaring-residents-parking-charges-Read-mans-struck-blow-motorists-everywhere.html.</a></li>
</ul>
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Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-47259770183917051912013-07-26T00:15:00.000+01:002013-07-30T09:50:20.321+01:00If you were angry before, you'll be livid after reading this<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've got two pieces of important news: </span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Council spent money fighting parking challenge that it considered "likely" it would it would lose. Meanwhile it raked in millions it believed would likely to be declared unlawful.</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Council reports show that Barnet Council considered it likely that it would lose the legal challenge brought by resident David Attfield over its unfair residents' parking charges. Yet it chose in our opinion: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To waste over £100,000 in legal costs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To carry on claiming unlawful parking charges for nearly two years</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And exposed David Attfield to enormous personal financial risk and stress</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reports, described as Corporate Performance Indicators, highlight major risks that the Council faces in its delivery of Environment, Planning and Regeneration services. In a number of reports (including the earliest and most recent reports), the Council acknowledges that it is "likely" to lose the judicial review action (see for example page 15 of the Environment, Planning and Regeneration report for Quarter 1, 2011/2012). </span><br />
<a href="https://www.barnet.gov.uk/downloads/download/267/corporate_plan_indicators_2011-12_quarter_1">https://www.barnet.gov.uk/downloads/download/267/corporate_plan_indicators_2011-12_quarter_1</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When this was pointed out to the Council and they were asked to justify why they had fought the legal action, they replied that they had prudently taken a "pessimistic" view in these reports.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazingly, according to the Council Leader, the Council "has no alternative but to look to appeal the decision". This opinion is totally against what the trial Judge, Mrs Justice Lang DBE stated in her conclusions, that an appeal would have "no real prospect of success".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is an 'alternative', Barnet - accept you got these charges wrong, give up your hopeless resistance, refund the money, find a fairer way to fund the road maintenance budget and let us all move on! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Petition launched urging Council to accept High Court Ruling </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you think that it's time the council refunded the money it unlawfully claimed from you these past two years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if you think that the Council will simply waste more public money by appealing against the ruling and that this will unjustly expose David Attfield to further legal costs and stress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then please sign our petition urging the Council to do the right thing and accept the emphatic High Court ruling that has been made against it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can sign the petition using this link: <a href="http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/CPZAction/" target="_blank">http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/CPZAction/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can tell Richard Cornelius, the Council Leader what you think at at <a href="mailto:cllr.r.cornelius@barnet.gov.uk">cllr.r.cornelius@barnet.gov.uk</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can contact Dean Cohen,the Cabinet Member responsible for parking at <a href="mailto:cllr.d.cohen@barnet.gov.uk">cllr.d.cohen@barnet.gov.uk</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please also tell your MP what you think</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders green) <a href="mailto:mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk">mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matthew Offard (Hendon) <a href="mailto:matthew.offord.mp@parliament.uk">matthew.offord.mp@parliament.uk</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) <a href="mailto:theresa@theresavilliers.co.uk">theresa@theresavilliers.co.uk</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please sign. Please write. It will send a powerful message to the council to end this madness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-22474354794183376652013-07-23T12:57:00.001+01:002013-07-24T08:11:15.317+01:00Details of our victory...and what happens now <h4>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What the Judge ruled</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The High Court ruling is a complete vindication of our position. In a strong judgment, Mrs Justice Lang DBE concluded: </span><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That parking charges can be a significant cost for residents living in a CPZ, particularly where the hours are long or the residents have a low income</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That the charges apply only to around 8% of residents </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That the Council was motivated by maximising income from CPZ residents to ease financial pressures on the Council</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That councils should only be able to deliberately profit from residents where Parliament has very clearly allowed this.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In this case, the legislation did not allow councils to use parking charges in order to maximise income.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">An increase in parking charges needs to serve a parking management purpose (e.g. to counter increased costs or to control demand for parking spaces).</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This interpretation of the law is also supported by two earlier High Court decisions. </span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h4>
<br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What happens next?</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Unless the Council brings a successful appeal, charges will revert to what they were before the rises (£40 for a permit and £1 for a visitor voucher) and residents will be entitled to a refund of the amounts that they have been overcharged. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We do not know yet if Barnet will try to appeal. They will need permission in order to bring an appeal but this was not granted by Mrs Justice Lang who said that an appeal would have "no real prospect of success". But Barnet may still ask the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We would urge the council not to bring an appeal. An appeal would delay residents receiving the refunds to which they are entitled, would waste more money on legal fees and would expose David Attfield to enormous financial risk in respect of the Council's legal costs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We would like all of our supporters to tell the Council, their local councillors and their MP that there is no justification in the Council continuing a legal fight that it has comprehensively lost. We will suggest ways for how you can do this in our next update. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-70008452387682845282013-07-22T11:24:00.001+01:002013-07-23T07:16:48.147+01:00<h2>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">WE WON!</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further details will follow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime here is some media coverage our campaign has received today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23406427" target="_blank">BBC News</a><b> - </b>Car permit victory for campaigners</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2013-07-22/landmark-parking-case-won/" target="_blank">ITV News</a> - <span style="font-weight: normal;">Rolling commentary through the day</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/councils-cant-use-parking-to-raise-revenues-after-landmark-ruling-by-judge-in-barnet-8725970.html" target="_blank">London Evening Standard</a> <b>-<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Councils can't use parking to raise revenues</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/10563647.Council_used_CPZ_money_for__illegal_and_immoral_purposes_/" target="_blank">Times Series</a> - </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barnet Council used CPZ money for 'illegal and immoral purposes'</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/controlled_parking_zone_charges_introduced_by_brian_coleman_deemed_unlawful_1_2290931" target="_blank">Ham & High</a> - Landmark High Court ruling deems Barnet Council CPZ charges ‘unlawful’</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.barnet-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=24899&headline=CPZ%20price%20hike%20unlawful,%20says%20High%20Court%20judge" target="_blank">Barnet Today</a> - CPZ price hike unlawful, says High Court judge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10563961.Labour_group_welcomes_High_Court_CPZ_decision/" target="_blank">This is Local London</a> -</span></span>Barnet's Labour group welcomes High Court ... <br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/22/residents-high-court-barnet-council-parking-permit" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> - Barnet residents win high court fight...<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2373711/Barnet-Council-parking-permits-price-hike-ruled-illegal-stealth-tax.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a> - Motorists win landmark judgement ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">and the <a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2013/2089.html" target="_blank">actual judgement.</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-81213696376180167112013-07-19T07:22:00.002+01:002013-07-19T11:20:22.143+01:00Judgment Day: Monday 22 July<b>The High Court will give its ruling on the legality of Barnet Council's CPZ charges on Monday 22 July.</b><br />
<br />
The Judgment will be given by Mrs Justice Lang at 10.00 am in Court 37 of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL<br />
<br />
We will post the result here as soon as it is available. Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-82795593191359296232013-07-03T23:23:00.000+01:002013-07-04T13:55:20.317+01:00High Court Judge hears our claim<b>A number of supporters spent a tense day in the High Court on 2 July as our legal challenge to Barnet's absurd CPZ parking charges was finally presented.</b><br />
<br />
The hearing was before Mrs Justice Lang who appeared fully engaged with the case. In summary, our argument was:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The CPZ increases were motivated purely by Barnet's desire to generate more income which it could spend on transport projects, primarily paying for concessionary fares.</li>
<li>This is shown in numerous council documents. Indeed, Barnet do not deny that this is what they were doing.</li>
<li>We say that this is unlawful and that the legislation that allows councils to charge for parking was never intended to be used by councils simply to maximise profits.</li>
<li>Our interpretation, we say, is supported by two earlier legal cases: In both, the court held that councils needed to have a genuine reason for imposing charges, such as the need to control demand for parking.</li>
<li>But Barnet say that a need to raise money in hard times is in itself a genuine, lawful reason. </li>
</ul>
<br />
The Ham & High newspaper have also published a report about the hearing.<br />
<a href="http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/barnet_cpz_action_group_bring_judicial_review_of_barnet_council_parking_policy_led_by_brian_coleman_1_2262604">http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/barnet_cpz_action_group_bring_judicial_review_of_barnet_council_parking_policy_led_by_brian_coleman_1_2262604</a><br />
<br />
Mrs Justice Lang is expected to deliver her judgment in the next couple of weeks.Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-53505549144131132922013-07-01T20:29:00.000+01:002013-07-02T20:03:55.482+01:00COURT HEARING - 2ND JULY 2013 <br />
Here are the details for tomorrow's hearing:<br />
<br />
We are in Court 22 of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=&ie=UTF-8&q=map+royal+courts+of+justice&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=royal+courts+of+justice&hnear=0x47d8a00baf21de75:0x52963a5addd52a99,London&cid=0,0,1712304674036531564&ei=nZ_RUZbgEsOK7AaUpYGgCw&ved=0CDQQtgMwAw">https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=&ie=UTF-8&q=map+royal+courts+of+justice&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=royal+courts+of+justice&hnear=0x47d8a00baf21de75:0x52963a5addd52a99,London&cid=0,0,1712304674036531564&ei=nZ_RUZbgEsOK7AaUpYGgCw&ved=0CDQQtgMwAw</a><br />
<br />
The hearing will be before Mrs Justice Lang DBE and is due to start at 10.30am. However, there may be another matter that will be heard first, so we may have to wait a little.<br />
<br />
For those who are able to attend all or part of the hearing, I think it should be quite interesting, but please remember no photographs in the court building.<br />
<br />
The <b>Ham & High</b> would like to do a photo shoot at 10am on the steps of the court. If it is convenient, we would welcome anyone who can come along - the stronger our presence the better.<br />
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<div>
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Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-18363345050430127322013-06-28T07:35:00.003+01:002013-06-29T00:10:56.777+01:00The Final Countdown and a Final Appeal <h2>
The papers are all filed, our arguments have been honed and we are ready to take on Barnet Council in the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand on Tuesday 2 July.</h2>
<br />
<h3>
Our case in a nutshell</h3>
After two years of legal to-ing and fro-ing, the case has boiled down to on one point arising in one piece of legislation. <b>Essentially the question is "can a Council deliberately target CPZ residents in order to pay for other transport projects?" </b><br />
<br />
Our answer is <i>"no!"</i>. A parking charge must be set to reflect local parking demand and the cost of administering the parking scheme. If it happens to make a profit, then that profit can be spent on other projects. But you can't set charges simply to meet a profit target you have plucked out of the air. In our case, Barnet found that they had a £1.8 million hole in their budget when they decided at the last minute not to introduce new traffic cameras. Their answer: Simply hike CPZ charges by whatever amount was needed to fill that gap. <br />
<br />
Barnet say that they use parking to raise revenue. Because a council is allowed to spend parking profits on other transport projects, Parliament must have intended councils to be able to hike charges deliberately in order to pay for other projects. <br />
<br />
The case is likely to have significant repercussions for how parking charges are set in the future since no other council has been so bold as to argue that parking can be used deliberately as a revenue raiser.<br />
<br />
<h3>
We still need need your donations</h3>
<b>A final appeal</b>: we've received hundreds of donations and many thousands of pounds to help ensure that, should the legal action fail, money is available to pay Barnet's legal costs. But Barnet have estimated that their costs will be £50,000 and we still have a significant shortfall, leaving David Attfield personally exposed should he lose.<br />
<br />
We urge every CPZ resident to make a donation if they can. If David Attfield wins, CPZ households could save hundreds of pounds in future and Barnet have promised to refund people who have paid the inflated charges over the past two years. <b>Please, make a donation now.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">To all our supporters and donors, thank you. We wouldn't have got this far without you.</span></b>Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-51842045379600789842013-06-22T14:20:00.000+01:002013-06-22T14:29:14.670+01:00EAST FINCHLEY FESTIVAL - 23RD JUNE 2013<br />
Tomorrow, Sunday, the East Finchley Festival will be held in Cherry Tree Woods, opposite East Finchley underground station.<br />
<br />
Weather permitting, this promises to be a great family and community event. The festival has been running for many years and has two performance stages, one at each end of the park, with various acts and live music going on all afternoon. There are plenty of attractions for children and stalls serving delicious food from around the world and, most importantly for some, there is the "drinks tent"!<br />
<br />
The BARNET CPZ ACTION team will be together with our own stall for the last time before our Court day on 2nd July, so do come along and meet us (in case you haven't already) and join in the fun. There is likely to be a film crew there who are documenting the parking problems generally, so we want to show we are a force to be reckoned with!<br />
<br />
We would especially welcome any of our supporters to come along and give us a hand for an hour or so on the stall. Any help would be very much appreciated, so let us know if you can come and give a hand with our games and lucky dip.<br />
<br />
You can find out more about the East Finchley Festival on their Facebook page. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/East.Finchley.Festival.">https://www.facebook.com/East.Finchley.Festival.</a> <br />
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Please note that the Northern Line has planned engineering works in operation, but replacement buses are available.<br />
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We hope you can come along.Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-56452425374593092692013-06-13T22:02:00.000+01:002013-06-16T00:07:50.730+01:00 The Final Push - New Leaflet<br />
We are currently in the process of urgently distributing our new leaflet, reminding people of the trial on 2nd July and making a final appeal for funds. Barnet CPZs cover a huge area, so in case we don't get to you or your neighbours <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://imapnet.com/barnetcpz/barnet_cpz_flyer_finalappeal.pdf">here's a copy</a></span></b> which you may want to print and stick in your window, forward to your Neighbourhood Watch Officer, Community Group or anyone you know living within a controlled parking zone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6275368981561553180" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsmDSgSu7M4/Ubo8ilqI6KI/AAAAAAAAAN4/rp9jwxH-YbM/s1600/Barnet+CPZ+Flyer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsmDSgSu7M4/Ubo8ilqI6KI/AAAAAAAAAN4/rp9jwxH-YbM/s640/Barnet+CPZ+Flyer.png" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-14363387990284999202013-06-05T10:50:00.000+01:002013-06-05T10:50:34.402+01:00BBC 1 Documentary Makers Want To Hear From You<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
The campaign to overturn Barnet's unfair CPZ parking charges will feature prominently in a documentary TV programme being made for BBC 1 about parking. The programme makers will follow the campaign in its final stages up to the trial of the legal action on 2nd July and want to hear of the experiences and views of Barnet residents. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
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<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
They are urgently looking for a number of contributors to appear in the programme. Perhaps you could explain how you and your family have been affected by the charges? Or how you have campaigned against them? The programme is being made over the course of the next few weeks and the makers will be able to meet you at a time and place convenient for you. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
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<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
If you might like to appear in the programme, please email us at <a href="mailto:barnetcpz@gmail.com">barnetcpz@gmail.com</a> for more information. </div>
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Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-44932306060511490412013-06-02T21:52:00.001+01:002013-06-05T10:47:03.033+01:00<h2>
What We Have Achieved So Far.</h2>
<br />
The Barnet CPZ Action group has been quite quiet over the past months while we wait for next month's court hearing, so we thought we'd remind you of some of the things we have achieved:<br />
<br />
1. It took a long time, but, back in the autumn, the Council made an important concession when they introduced half day visitor vouchers. Priced at £2.20 each, they are still expensive - some residents in neighboring boroughs pay as little as 60p for visitor parking. But £2.20 is a lot better that £4.16. For residents living in zones with 1 hour restrictions, the cost of visitor parking has been nearly halved.<br />
<br />
2. The council has also not implemented some additional CPZ increases put forwarded by Councillor Brian Coleman before he lost his cabinet position on the council. Councillor Coleman wanted to make CPZ residents pay £20 when they changed their car as well as wanting to charge for temporary parking dispensations when, for example, a resident uses a courtesy car for a few days. Following Brian Coleman's emphatic defeat at the London Assembly elections, the Council realised that <b>these unfair policies risked bringing the council into the disrepute.</b><br />
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3. Anger over Brain Coleman's damaging parking policies (remember he also hiked parking charges on the High Street and removed "pay and display" machines) were a major factor behind his London Assembly defeat.<br />
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4. We learnt that the CPZ charges the council introduced were <b>far higher than those recommended by its own consultants </b>who the council had appointed to advise on this very question.<br />
<br />
5. Did Barnet Council think that, because CPZs are spread out across disparate parts of the borough, there wouldn't be any effective opposition to the charges? If so, they were wrong. Our campaign has united CPZ residents, and many non-CPZ residents, from all corners of the borough.<br />
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6. The campaign has featured on national and local TV and radio and in the national and local press. We've helped raise awareness of the problems CPZ residents face through being a captive market. <br />
<br />
7. We've assembled a quality legal team to take the case forward under "no-win, no fee" agreements, reflecting their confidence in the case. Thanks to a supporter who obtained internal council papers under the Freedom of Information Act, <b>we also learnt that the council are confident WE will win</b>. Council papers record a Barnet CPZ Action victory at court to be "likely". <br />
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<br />Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-22815934119533348092013-03-17T11:30:00.000+00:002013-03-17T11:30:00.002+00:00<h3>
Let the Government know what you think of Barnet's parking policies</h3>
<strong></strong><br />
The Transport Select Committee of the House of Commons has issued a consultation asking what people think about local authority parking policies. We suspect there may be a disproportionate response from Barnet residents.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Anyone can submit their views but this will need to be done by Monday 25 March. Details of the consultation can be found here. </strong><br />
<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/transport-committee/news/parking-enforcement---tor/">http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/transport-committee/news/parking-enforcement---tor/</a><br />
<br />
Among the issues that Barnet residents may wish to raise are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The unfairness of CPZ residents being held to ransom by huge increases in permit charges, knowing that the council is deliberately creating a huge financial surplus in order to help pay for travel passes and road resurfacing for the whole borough. </li>
<li>The folly of removing all cash pay and display ticket machines, making the simple act of parking to pop into a shop inconvenient and confusing for many people.</li>
<li>Hiking high street parking charges to levels more suited to city centres or inner London boroughs. This has been done at a time when other councils (such as Haringey) are introducing free parking for short periods in order to support their high streets.</li>
</ul>
Whatever your views, it's important that they are heard. Please find 30 minutes before 25 March in order to take part.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Don't forget: You can now buy half day visitor vouchers</h3>
<br />
Under pressure from angry residents, the Council introduced half day visitor vouchers last year at a cost of £2.20 each. Still VERY expensive but better than the absurd flat charge of £4.16 for a standard voucher! Residents in zones which operate for just one or two hours a day will now only need these cheaper vouchers.<br />
<br />
But reports reach us that residents are having difficulty selecting these cheaper vouchers when they apply online or on the phone. We are trying to get to the bottom of what the problem is but it may be that Barnet's clunking IT system has residents registered as being entitled to all day vouchers and is defaulting to that. We will update you when we know more but in the meantime, if you only need half day vouchers, make sure you don't pay the full price. Call 020 8359 7446 if in doubt.Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-54556597252444764942012-11-18T19:37:00.003+00:002012-11-20T01:18:46.242+00:00<h2>
<b>Survey Launched of East Finchley CPZ</b></h2>
<h4>
Finchley and Golders Green MP, Mike Freer, has launched a survey seeking views from residents of East Finchley's all day CPZ. You can complete the survey here:</h4>
<span id="ecxOLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FR3FVQ8" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FR3FVQ8</a></span></span><br />
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The initiative is surprising given that Mike Freer has long argued that he has no role in or power over Barnet Council's parking policies. The fact that Mr Freer now recognises that, as an elected representative, he should seek to address his residents' concerns even if they relate to Council business, is to be welcomed.<br />
<br />
But there is one glaring omission in the survey. There is no mention of cost. The survey only asks for views about the CPZ's operational hours.<br />
<br />
Some residents, because of their particular circumstances, will want either long or short operational hours irrespective of cost. Factors will be how many visitors they have and how close they live to East Finchley High Road.<br />
<br />
But for many residents, the question whether they prefer long hours (which will mean buying a lot of visitor vouchers) or short hours (and therefore buying few) will inevitably depend on cost. After all, few people can countenance paying what until very recently was a minimum of £4.16 for each visitor. <br />
<br />
We encourage you to complete Mr Freer's survey if you are affected but it's unfortunate that he has not grasped the nettle of cost. After all, it's possible many residents would accept or even welcome long, all day restrictions if the charges were reasonable? And wouldn't Barnet Council receive just as much revenue selling a lot of cheap visitor vouchers as selling a few very expensive ones? <br />
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<br />Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-68339243642801787682012-10-22T14:03:00.000+01:002012-10-23T00:45:21.914+01:00The Long Wait <strong>We have important news (both good and bad) about our legal action to overturn last year's unfair CPZ rises. Also, please see the end of this post for details of an interesting film being premiered tonight (22 October)</strong><br />
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The <strong>good news</strong> is that, after a slow Summer during which Barnet consistently missed Court deadlines for filing their evidence, all evidence has now been served and the Court have given us a date for the final trial.<br />
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The <strong>bad news</strong> is that the trial will not be until the middle of next year - the 2nd of July 2013. It seems that the Courts are simply swamped at the moment, particularly with housing and immigration cases. With so much urgent work before the Courts, we, unfortunately, simply have to wait our turn.<br />
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When our turn does come, we will be confident of success because Barnet have raised no new arguments for why the increases were lawful. They simply say, as they have said throughout, that they wanted the Parking Service to generate profits of £5 million a year and hiked the CPZ charges for residents by whatever they thought was needed to achieve this. In setting the CPZ charges at exorbitant levels, Barnet ignored the advice of their consultants, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, who Barnet had asked to review parking charges and who had proposed far smaller rises. Barnet also rejected an alternative proposal to spread the rises more evenly across Barnet's road users, preferring to saddle the 10% of residents in CPZs with increases of up to 300%. Raising revenue is unpopular, after all, so why upset more people than necessary when CPZ residents are such easy targets?<br />
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During the long wait till the trial, we will keep our website updated and will also report back on what we have achieved so far. <br />
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<strong>In the meantime, if you are interested in some of the broader issues affecting the borough (in particular the One Barnet outsourcing initiative), you may be interested in a film being premiered <u>tonight at 6pm</u> at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley.</strong> "Barnet - The Billion Dollar Gamble" is made by film maker Charles Honderick who last year made the thought provoking "A Tale of Two Barnets" which looked, among other things, at the effects of the CPZ rises.<br />
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<a href="http://barnetalliance.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/barnet-the-billion-pound-gamble-film-premiere-monday-22-october/">http://barnetalliance.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/barnet-the-billion-pound-gamble-film-premiere-monday-22-october/</a><br />
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Whatever your views, Charles's new film promises to be powerful and thought provoking stuff. Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-57131378684710676392012-09-17T22:13:00.002+01:002012-09-17T22:13:50.609+01:00CPZ residents pay through the nose for Council Leader's smooth ride <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barnet Council's official line has always been that the CPZ increases were necessary in order to fund road repairs across the borough. Indeed, according to former Cabinet Member Brian Coleman, the "only way" to pay for upcoming road repairs was to use profits generated by parking. Presumably it was thought that this would resonate well with the 90% of Barnet residents who do not live in a CPZ. Enjoy a top class road surface subsidised by others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how is the additional income being spent? Well some of it ended up here, in a quiet residential cul de sac in Totteridge: </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emGKtYDZI_M/UFeMeUkLP-I/AAAAAAAAAMo/W-8aW76fwX8/s1600/RIMG0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emGKtYDZI_M/UFeMeUkLP-I/AAAAAAAAAMo/W-8aW76fwX8/s320/RIMG0565.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Residents of the street report that there was nothing particularly wrong with the road before it was resurfaced, particularly given the tiny volume of traffic in a street with around 30 houses which only leads to a dead end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The road isn't in a CPZ, so residents don't face having to fork out £48 or more in parking charges should they chose to have a child's birthday party at home. Or £250 should a relative visit for the summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also the road where Council Leader Richard Cornelius lives with his wife, herself a Conservative Councillor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cost of this lavish treatment: £32,789.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Or looking at it another way, about £3 for every CPZ household in Barnet.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> But not Mr & Mrs Cornelius.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span> Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275368981561553180.post-57550038371340769322012-08-30T18:23:00.002+01:002012-08-30T18:23:38.927+01:00Council Leader expresses regret over CPZ increases!Yes, it's true. In a recent interview, Council Leader Richard Cornelius expressed regret about last year's staggering CPZ increases imposed on Barnet residents who, unlike him, live in a CPZ. It's well worth watching the short clip posted on the Barnet Bugle website: <a href="http://www.barnetbugle.com/journal/2012/8/24/richard-cornelius-we-funked-it-with-huge-barnet-cpz-permit-r.html">http://www.barnetbugle.com/journal/2012/8/24/richard-cornelius-we-funked-it-with-huge-barnet-cpz-permit-r.html</a><br />
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But just how deep is his regret? Well, seemingly not deep enough to overturn the rises, though he does mention a planned concession: the introduction of (expensive) half day vouchers. We'll post full details about this soon, including some hard facts which show that they are not the bargain that the Council would like to make out.<br />
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Listening carefully to Councillor Cornelius's words, however, it's clear that his regret isn't over the fact that a one day visitor voucher costs an absurd £4.16 or a 3 month permit costs nearly £250. It's just that it would have been better in his view if the increases had been masked by being phased in over a few years. <br />
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In 2001, a resident's permit cost £20 and a visitor voucher cost 35p and that was more than enough to ensure that the CPZs broke even. By 2007, the cost had gone up significantly above inflation to £40 and £1. Does Councillor really believe that the increase of between 150% and 600% that he voted for would have been morally acceptable if they's been spread out over the preceding 3 years? <br />
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Barnet CPZ Campaignhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06868886846623648224noreply@blogger.com0