'Remember the traders' - MP concerned about Edmonton parking plans (From Enfield Independent)

'Remember the traders' - MP Andy Love concerned about Enfield Borough Council's Edmonton CPZ plans

5:35pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Hermione Wright

An MP is urging Enfield Borough Council to “think very carefully” about charging traders to park in Edmonton.

Edmonton MP Andy Love told the Enfield Independent the council should be wary about plans to introduce a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in a vast area of Edmonton home to 20,000 people.

If passed, businesses would be forced to pay £660 a year for permits to park each vehicle on affected streets between 9am and 6.30pm every day.

Although the Labour MP admitted there is a parking problem in Edmonton, he said the council should look at the impact the charges would have on businesses in an already tough financial time.

He acknowledged the issue is “acutely sensitive” but said he hopes the authority listens to what the public wants and acts in their interest.

Traders would not be the only people affected by the plans - some households in Edmonton  would be charged £120 a year to park outside their home.

Outraged trader Erin Selebi, who has run Star Plumbing Supplies in Bounces Road for 13 years, told the Enfield Independent last month that the CPZ would kill the area by preventing people from visiting.

She said a lot of traders were struggling, and would be unable to pay the parking fees on top of other spiralling costs.

But cabinet member for the environment Councillor Chris Bond insisted the parking fees will only be introduced if the majority of people support it during the consultation. 

The Labour politician said: “We do not want to lose any businesses in Edmonton. It is a matter of fact, people have got to make their minds up.

“If businesses want to come to us and say they are concerned, then I am more than happy to listen to that.

“If they want to write to us and suggest other ways, we will look at it."

Councillor Henry Lamprecht, who represents Southgate Green, is backing the traders’ plight to oppose the CPZ and has left petitions in shops throughout Edmonton to encourage people to object.

Although the consultation officially ended on Monday January 28, Cllr Bond said views will still be taken into account. A third and final consultation is expected to run in the summer.