Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Council to Review Parking charges for Harringay Shoppers
Traffic along Green Lanes in Harringay. (Picture by James Stewart. Used under a Creative Commons Licence)
Parking charges on Green Lanes are due to be discussed at a Council meeting next week.
The Harringay Traders' Association say the increase has been hurting business. They have been campaigning tirelessly for a reduction in parking charges since the Council increased parking charges last year from £1.40 to £3 per hour.
Together with colleagues from Crouch End and Muswell Hill, Harringay's high street businesses are calling for a change to parking policy and to have a half hour free parking.
The full meeting of the council will take place on Monday 19th November at the Haringey Civic Centre, in High Road, Wood Green from 7:30pm.
Tags for Forum Posts: high street parking, high streets, parking
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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I've heard nothing about a review of high street parking charges, Hugh. Though of course, as is now traditional under the "cabinet" system, backbench councillors would probably be the last to know.
Airing a topic at a Council meeting isn't in any sense a "review". The best we can hope for is some informed thoughtful contributions, instead of the usual Party yah-boo; or councillors reading from briefings prepared by the two parties' political "assistants". (Councillors get 3 minutes to speak. Which of course is more than adequate for a grown-up discussion, isn't it?)
I'm not sure either that there's consensus among "high street businesses" that the solution is a free half-hour. This is the solution proposed by the LibDems.
I think there should be a review. But it would need to be a review which covered not just High Street businesses; and is wide open to a range of options - rather than beginning by announcing its conclusion. To have any point, it would also need an undertaking by the Dear Leader and her "cabinet" that they would listen to and act on the review's recommendations.
(Labour councillor Tottenham Hale ward)
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Permalink Reply by Grant on
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Worth having a look at this recently published report: http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/policylobbying/transport/parkingin...
It concludes, among other things, that: More parking does not necessarily mean greater commercial success (free parking can reduce parking space ‘turn over’ and reduce the number of visitors); shopkeepers consistently overestimate the share of their customers coming by car, and that; walkers and bus users spend more per month than car drivers.
Appendix two of the report has case studies, one of which although unnamed is clearly Wood Green shopping centre. In the survey only 17% of shoppers had arrived by car, even though this location has an abundance of very cheap parking.
The report also concludes that 'A good mix of shops and services and a quality environment are some of the most important factors in attracting visitors to town centres'. I would associate a 'quality environment' with less traffic, not more.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I suspect that given the nature of Harringay's high street at the moment, our local traders may be right. A high proportion of the shoppers and diners are not locals. Most of the restauranteurs, for example, estimate that over two thirds of their customers are not local. That proportion is at least as high for many of the other shops.
The issue of high street diversity is a key one. I asked recently whether decreasing car parking charges was good for the localism agenda in Harringay. I don't have the answer, but I'm not convinced that a knee-jerk reaction to support it by individuals or political parties is the right way to go.
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Agree on your last point - the political element of this debate is particularly unedifying.
Meanwhile, the most car dependent nation on earth is improving parking for local businesses, increasing visitor numbers and reducing congestion by... Raising parking rates! http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012-10-measuring-the-str...
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Many thanks for the link, Grant, especially as it was only published a week ago. I'll find time over the weekend to read the report. The Appendix looks particularly relevant: "How and Why People Travel to Town Centres".
(Our own Cllr Nilgun Canver is Haringey's representative on the Transport & Environment Committee TEC - of London Councils.)
And thanks, Hugh for reminding me about the previous post. Even the brief comments on that thread - I exclude my own - are more sensible and wide-ranging than anything either party has said on this topic.
One way forward on this issue would be a Citizens' Jury. It would need to include local traders as well as residents. But obviously, excluding party politicians. And under no circumstances could it be another absurd Kober Kommission.
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Permalink Reply by Kerrie on
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Could councillors please review the ridiculous parking restrictions in Ravenstone rd and surounding streets? Its 8am-10pm EVERYDAY. What is the rationale for this? Shops are closed in the evening and cinema goers would park nearer the cinema. I see parking attendants patroling in cars hoping to catch people out just before 10pm. Can councillors really claim that this is the best use of council tax payers money.
Come on HOL-ers, lets put some pressure on the council over this ridiculous policy.
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Kerrie, can I suggest that it may not be appropriate for members of HoL generally to put pressure on the Council about this.
As a ward councillor elsewhere, the people I would listen to first about a change in parking hours would be local residents. There's a Parkside Malvern Residents Association which seems fairly active and more than willing to critique council policies.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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