Free Enfield Town Sunday parking plans delayed (From Enfield Independent)

Free Enfield Town Sunday parking plans delayed

5:40pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

Plans to bring free Sunday parking back to Enfield Town have been delayed due to objections from Conservative councillors.

Following a review, Enfield Borough Council announced on Tuesday, October 16, that drivers could park for free in The Town for up to three hours.

However, Conservative Cllr Terry Neville has objected to proposals, saying the plans are “nothing like as generous as they seem.”

He claims the council's current plans will prevent drivers from parking on single yellow lines in The Town on Sundays.

Otherwise, he said, drivers would be handed a £60 parking fine.

Cllr Neville said: “At the moment, and as it has been for a long time, people can park on single yellow lines on a Sunday.

“People using churches in London Road park on the street but after this comes in they won’t be able to do so.

“It means that these people that go to church will in future have to park in the free parking which will mean there are less spaces for shoppers.”

The Labour council planned to introduce three hours of free parking by mid November.

However, the parking plans will now be discussed during a scrutiny panel on Thursday, November 8.

Even if the Labour council's plans are waived through, free parking is expected to be delayed until the first week of December.

The controversial charges were introduced in January, with more than 7,500 people signing a petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped.

Cllr Chris Bond, cabinet member for environment, wants to introduce £2 charges if people want to stay up to four hours, £5 for up to six hours and £6 for more than six hours.

He believes the fees will bring shoppers to Enfield while preventing drivers from parking in The Town all day while visiting central London.

Cllr Neville said: “All the report says it there is congestion in the town and we have to deal with it but that’s all a load of tosh – there is absolutely no congestion in this town.

“We are not actually challenging the three hours, what we are challenging is the yellow line restriction. We wouldn’t be so silly as to challenge the three hours; that’s what we have been campaigning for.”

He said the council’s latest parking plans are “simply another way to get more money.”

The Enfield Independent is waiting for a comment from Cllr Bond.