Although Barnet's CPZ parking charges are being hiked again on 30 April, the official paperwork makes clear that the cost of annual permits will not rise IF they purchased online.
Unfortunately, nobody seems to have told the operators of Barnet's website because residents applying to renew their permits online have been charged the new rates (£105 for a first permit). If you've been overcharged, you may want to reclaim your £5 by emailing Barnet's parking team at parking@barnet.gov.uk
Meanwhile, tucked away in the small print, we've noticed that a totally new CPZ charge has stealthily been introduced. From 30 April, residents will be charged £20 for a temporary parking dispensation for themselves. A dispensation is usually sought when a resident is using a courtesy car for a few days or is changing their car. The dispensation is intended to cover the time it takes to obtain a new permit. The effect is that replacing your car will now cost £41 in additional permit charges (£21 to to transfer the permit to your new car and £20 for a temporary dispensation while you wait for your new permit to arrive in the post). A year ago, both services were free of charge.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
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
Monday, 2 April 2012
The unintended consequences of high parking charges
We will provide you will a full update on the legal action shortly but, in the meantime, please take a minute to read some information that has been dug up by the Barnet Eye blog.
In summary, in an extraordinary move, Barnet Council is planning to impose new curbs on parking on both sides of Bittacy Hill in Mill Hill East. This will reduce further the available parking, inconveniencing households who just want to be able park themselves and welcome guests to their homes whilst also putting further pressure on businesses.
But why are we mentioning this? Bittacy Hill isn't even in a CPZ. Well, as the Barnet Eye reveals, that is precisely the point. It turns out that people have been parking on Bittacy Hill in order to avoid the absurd charges that apply in the nearby CPZ.
Not only are these newly displaced drivers avoiding paying any charges to the council (they had previously at least been paying something to the council), the increased number of parked cars has been causing havoc: Residents are inconvenienced, road safety is undermined, buses and other traffic disrupted.
In our campaign, we have focused a lot on the penal cost to residents of CPZ parking. But this isn't the only consequence. Parking revenue is falling well short of that expected as people go to great lengths to avoid charges that they know are unjustified. But this in turn is causing further disruption and inconvenience for residents and businesses. Barnet Council have created a perfect lose-lose situation.
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