Barnet Council plans to hike parking fees, sparking a clash with MP Dan Tomlinson over the potential removal of free parking options
Barnet: So, there’s some serious talk about parking fees in Barnet. The council is looking to raise prices, and it could get pretty steep. They might even scrap free parking in some spots.
They want to push people to ditch their cars, which is why they’re considering these hikes. Right now, parking for an hour can cost anywhere from 77p to £3.12, but they’re thinking of setting a new minimum of £3.50.
For longer stays, it could go up to £8.75 for a whole day. And if you’re a resident, those visitor vouchers are also going up. A virtual one-day voucher will jump from £1.17 to £2.50.
It seems the council is trying to get folks to use paperless vouchers since they’re cheaper and better for the environment. But not everyone is on board with the idea of losing free parking.
Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson is pushing back. He’s gathered nearly 400 signatures on a petition to keep at least one hour of free parking in certain car parks. He’s keen to keep the conversation going into the new year.
The petition also wants to maintain free parking on Sundays where it’s currently available. A council spokesperson mentioned they’re working on a new parking policy to improve air quality and encourage public transport.
They recently wrapped up a public consultation, and it sounds like they got a lot of feedback. The council is trying to balance environmental goals with what the community needs, recognizing that cars are still necessary for some trips.