Parking charges will be introduced at four of Barnet’s parks – despite strong opposition from those who were consulted on the plans.

A council report says the fees will “safeguard the facilities primarily for [park] users” with the money raised – an estimated £150,000 a year – going towards maintaining parks and open spaces across the borough.

But with 82% of people who responded to a consultation saying they were opposed to the charges, Labour environment spokesperson Alan Schneiderman called for the “ridiculous” proposal to be scrapped.

Barnet Council received nearly 550 responses to the consultation, with the majority saying they used the car parks to visit the parks. The main concern of those who opposed the plans was that they would reduce access to the parks.

Despite the opposition, the charges – which in most cases will apply after a period of free parking – were agreed at a meeting of the environment committee on Thursday for Mill Hill Park, Old Courthouse Recreation Ground, Scratchwood Open Space and West Hendon Playing Fields.

Speaking during the meeting, Cllr Schneiderman said: “Given that 82% of the respondents who did take part [in the consultation] – and that would have been far higher if people were informed through letter boxes – why are you pushing ahead with this ridiculous plan?”

Committee chair Dean Cohen replied: “The car park is designed to ultimately benefit the users of the park. If it is clogged up by users who are not using the park, it is significantly impacting on those people who want to visit the park.”

Cllr Cohen said the idea was to allow a period of free parking that would benefit park users while charging “an element for people who are not using the car park for the park”.

Conservative committee member Laithe Jajeh asked what would happen to the committee savings plan if the charges were not introduced. Pointing out that many people are still working from home and using the borough’s parks and open spaces, he also asked if the charges could be delayed from April until July, to coincide with the final stages of lockdown.

Cassie Bridger, the council’s assistant director of green spaces and leisure, explained that if committee members did not approve the charges, they would have to look at other options to raise money.

Cllr Cohen proposed giving residents a four-week notice period after parking signs are installed, meaning the charges will apply from 1st May at the earliest.

Cllr Schneiderman said the council should be encouraging people to visit parks and called for any plans to extend charges to other car parks to be scrapped – but his recommendation was voted down by Conservative committee members.

The Conservative councillors then agreed the charges, as amended by Cllr Cohen, with Labour voting against.

For more information:

Visi barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s64162/Appendix%201%20-%20New%20Car%20Parks%20Fees%20and%20Charges.pdf