Wednesday 11 April 2012

Warning: Barnet hikes CPZ charges again!

It beggars belief but  Barnet council have today confirmed to us that parking charges for CPZ residents are being increased again at the end of April by 5%.

Under the new charges, a permit for a household’s first car will cost £105.  Each visitor voucher we understand will cost an absurd £4.20.

Barnet’s charges are already far higher than in comparable boroughs. Many residents in Haringey, Enfield, Brent and Harrow pay £50 or less for the their permit and between 50p and £1.10 for visitor parking.  

The increases come into effect on 30 April.  If your permit expires on 30 April or 1 May (like many of the borough’s permits do), you can still renew at the old price of £100 but only if you agree to your new permit starting on 29 April. Unfortunately you won’t be able to do this online. However, you can renew by phone on 020 8359 7446 and ask for your permit to start on 29 April.

These leatest increases show that Barnet Council intend  to continue exploiting the small minority of CPZ residents in order to subsidise services for the rest of the borough. Even though the legal action to overturn the CPZ charges has suffered set-backs, it is more important than ever that we fight on. We will be posting details of the progress of the legal action shortly but urge you to continue supporting it. This will mean, unfortunately, calling for more donations to ensure that David Attfield can meet any legal costs that he is ordered to pay should his appeal fail.  

If you feel that CPZ residents are being unfairly exploited, please let your councillors know.  You can access the email addresses of all Barnet Councillors here:

The architect of the CPZ charges is Councillor Brian Coleman: cllr.b.coleman@barnet.gov.uk
Brian Coleman is also standing as a candidate for the Camden and Barnet seat in the London Assembly election on 3 May.  

He is, of course, supported by Barnet Council Leader Richard Cornelius: leader@barnet.gov.uk or cllr.r.cornelius@barnet.gov.uk    

Whilst they are not responsible for parking charges, you can also tell your MP how you feel about the Council’s stance towards CPZ residents.   

Mike Freer MP (Finchley and Golders Green) mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk
Theresa Villiers MP (Chipping Barnet)   Theresa@theresavilliers.co.uk
Matthew Offord (Hendon)  matthew.offord.mp@parliament.uk

Sadly, the latest increases send a clear message: CPZ residents are easy targets and Barnet know it.  It is vital that we press on with the legal action if this vicious exploitation is to end.   


UPDATE: According to  the official notice published in the Barnet Press, the cost of a permit purchased online is to remain at £100 because of an "online discount". When we checked however, online users were being asked to pay £105.   If you renewed online and have been charged £105, we suggest you reclaim the £5 you have been overcharged by emailing parking@barnet.gov.uk 






2 comments:

  1. I don't think the council are acting in a proper or fair manner (not exactly unusual)

    The price rise is not effective until 1am on 30 April according to the advert (the council say 01.00am - they don't seem sure which clock they are using am/pm or 24hr )

    The council normally allow residents to renew from about 30 days beforehand in order to spread the workload and to allow time for renewal information to filter through to the traffic wardens' hand held equipment and for the permit to arrive in the post. By refusing renewal in advance at £100 I think the council are in breach of their powers. Their workaround is designed to make life easier for them and removes a small value (30p or so) from the resident; the permit value of £100/365 days. It would be much better if they simply processed everything as usual and implemented the price rise from the day that their advert specifies so that the organised pay the lower amount of £100 not £105.

    Have people due for renewal on 30 April even had reminders in the post is the other question?

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  2. Why are people still buying visitor vouchers ? I've stopped. If we all do the same then the idiots raising the prices will get the message.

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