The proposal had sparked a backlash this summer from users of the estate

Enfield Council has dropped previous plans to charge drivers for using the car park at Forty Hall Estate.

The proposals had sparked a backlash over the summer, especially from voluntary groups who use the car park regularly, and council leader Ergin Erbil now says he has “listened” to feedback in his decision to not go ahead with it.

It represents the second council U-turn relating to car parks within a week, after plans to sell off Glyn Road Car Park in Southbury were ditched on Friday (12^th).

There had also been a plan for a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the Forty Hill area which will also no longer go ahead.

Cllr Erbil said: “As a council that listens to our residents, we have taken on the feedback from the community that they want the car park at Forty Hall to remain free of charge. We recognise the concerns around accessibility, cost and public transport links that were raised as part of the consultation process, and have listened to these concerns.

“We want to make sure that the Forty Hall Estate is financially secure going forward, so that future generations of the community in Enfield can continue to enjoy it and make use of it. We’re going to look at increasing the use of Forty Hall for private functions like weddings and other community events. Our biodiversity net gain policies will also raise revenue for the estate, including our tours of the famous beaver enclosures.”

Lesley Pinchbeck, from Enfield Archaeological Society, was one of the people raising concerns about the imposition of parking charges at Forty Hall, saying it would prevent her group from using the site. In response to the news about the proposal being dropped, she said it was “a victory for common sense” and “a very welcome decision”.

Also pleased to hear the news was Enfield North Feryal Clark MP, who said: “I listened carefully to residents’ concerns and raised the impact this scheme could have had on families, visitors, and local schools. I called for changes to make it fairer, including extending the free parking period.

“I welcome the council’s decision to remove the proposed charges in the car park, and to pause the CPZ around Forty Hall, giving time for a more suitable solution to be considered which works for local people.”

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