East Finchley informal parking engagement

Overview

The Council has a legal duty to manage the highway to ensure that it is safe for all users and that the flow of traffic is maintained as far as is practicable. We also have the ability to control traffic and parking to achieve other traffic management aims, such as prioritising owners or users of some vehicles over others (for example, parking for people with disabilities near a chemist or local residents using permit parking in local roads). We therefore periodically, or sometimes when triggered by other events such as a large planning permission, review an area and determine what needs it may have for new or revised parking and traffic controls.

Many parts of East Finchley currently have no parking controls and there have been reports, substantiated by visits of Council officers, of high levels of parking congestion, some of which is unsafe, obstructive, or otherwise unsuitable. Local residents advise that much of this is non-resident parking, which as an area on the edge of existing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), is a likely significant factor.

Unmanaged parking makes it harder for those who live and work locally to find places to park. It also sees vehicles stopping in dangerous or inappropriate places, impacts traffic flow, increases congestion both from non-residents coming into the area without need, and residents circulating trying to find a parking spot. It may be harder to find parking near essential local shops and businesses, and this in turn impacts customer choices on when and where they visit.

What are we proposing?

One of the measures available to us to manage the finite kerb space, and balance the needs of road users, is to introduce CPZs.

CPZs help in managing parking more safely and effectively and give sophisticated controls to manage the use and turnover kerb space to competing users and purposes. These controls help to reduce commuter car use and encourage regular visitors to use public transport, cycling or walking, instead of driving into your area. They support local economies by ensuring that there is an appropriate turnover of spaces in the vicinity of local amenities, ensuring that parking is prioritised in favour of short term, regular turnover use that can drive footfall customers, rather than all day parking by workers.

As part of this engagement, we are also assessing the level of demand for electric vehicle charging points, on street secure bicycle storage and access to car clubs. This is so the Council can enhance travel choices and support sustainable modes of transport, as we recognise the impact of vehicle emissions on local air quality and congestion.

The Council is engaging over larger areas than it typically has in the past as we recognise that past CPZ growth of a couple of streets often saw limited progress addressing parking concerns and road safety in a strategic way. Using a wider area approach to engage with residents and stakeholders, in combination with introducing any controls on an experimental basis means we can reduce the pressure of parking displacement, and associated costs and timescales of repeated consultations.

We have provided more information below:

• Interactive map of area
• CPZ frequently asked questions

Your views are important to us

Your views are important to us and will help inform what parking controls we may need to implement in the local area to help improve parking for local residents, businesses, or other organisations.

We have written to all the properties in the consultation area, informing them of the consultation and how they can have their say.

We want to hear your views regarding the parking and traffic situation on your road. In particular we want to hear from residents, tenants, landlords, managing or letting agents, organisations, businesses, and all other interested parties.

How to have your say:

Complete our online questionnaire

If you live, have a business or an organisation within the consultation area please have your say by say by completing our online questionnaire below.

If you would like to request a paper questionnaire or another format, please:

• email parking.clientteam@barnet.gov.uk.
• telephone the Traffic and Development Section on 020 8359 3555
• write to us at Traffic and Development Section, London Borough of Barnet, 7^th Floor, Highways, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW.

If you would like someone to help you complete the questionnaire or need more information, please contact us using one of the above methods.

Any paper copies should be sent to the Traffic and Development Section, London Borough of Barnet, 7^th Floor, Highways, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW.

Properties within the affected area have been sent a letter inviting them to complete a questionnaire. If you live in the area and have not received a letter, please email us or write to us, using the contact details above.

What happens after the consultation closes?

All the responses will be analysed, and the outcome will help us determine what action needs to be taken to address areas of concern. We will publish the results of the consultation, our decision and how we are acting on the results of the consultation on this web page in March 2022.