Residents say the schemes will push parking problems on to neighbouring streets and leave them out of pocket, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Drivers in Palmers Green and Arnos Grove are fighting against two controlled parking zones (CPZ) set to be introduced by Enfield Council.

The proposed ‘Palmers Green East’ scheme will be bounded by Green Lanes, Hedge Lane, Hazelwood Lane and the New River and would introduce parking permits for residents, visitors, and businesses intending to park between 8am until 6.30pm.

The Arnos Grove CPZ will expand an existing permit parking scheme to Waterfall Road and Cannon Hill in the north and Station Road in the south, with operating times of 8am until 7.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

Resident and visitor permit costs for both schemes will vary depending on the size of each vehicle engine. Annual permits for small vehicles are £77, whereas large ones are £395. In all-day zones, business permit prices are £920 per year and £230 for three months.

But in response, residents in both areas have launched campaigns over fears that the CPZs were being used as an excuse by the council to raise revenue.

Judy Lake, a resident of Windsor Road, which would fall within the Palmers Green East CPZ, said: “There’s no cap in place on permits and there is no cap in revenue, so permit prices could go up, it’s very worrying.”

Last week around 100 locals in Palmers Green, a mix of business owners and residents, gathered at the Fox Lane pub in Green Lanes to discuss their concerns.

Kat Georgiou, a member of Green Lanes Business Association (GLBA), who hosted the meeting, said: “The majority of people were against the proposals.

“Most people were from inside the proposed CPZ but some from just outside. Those people neighbouring know their streets are going to get the impact of the overflow.”

She added: “We get why people would want them on the surface, but when you look into the details of it, the cost of them, you’re not guaranteed a parking space.

“What are you doing to your high street? Where are staff and customers supposed to park during the day or people doing pick-ups and drop-offs?”

Judy said: “Windsor Road, for example, has around 61 buildings and 14 are flats, and one building is a house of multiple occupancy. If you’ve only got 2,000 car spaces but 5,000 cars who now need a space, you’ll create overspill.

“There’s just not enough road for demand, it’s as simple as that, and if you’re going to implement it, don’t do it for profit.”

Judy said a plan for a CPZ similar to this one had been proposed previously in the area back in 2021, but was rejected due to unpopularity.

Meanwhile, in Arnos Grove, residents launched a petition calling for a reversal of the plans to extend its own CPZ, which has been signed by 1,215 people.

Residents described plans to convert free bays to permit bays as “deprivation” and the new permit costs as “souring”.

The petition stated the change was happening as a result of “increased residential developments” in the area that failed to “account for parking needs”.

In response, an Enfield Council spokesperson highlighted that both schemes were only at the preliminary consultation stage and encouraged residents to share their views.

“The consultations are in response to a longstanding request from residents for additional parking controls in the areas, to help reduce traffic levels and to make it easier to park closer to their homes.

“We would encourage residents to provide us with their views on the Palmers Green East and Arnos Grove controlled parking zone consultations, which close on Friday 13 September.

“The results of the consultations will be used to help decide on the next steps.”

For more information on the Palmers Green East Controlled Parking Zone consultation and to take part in the survey:
Visit Palmers Green East Controlled Parking Zone | Let’s Talk Enfield

For more information on the Arnos Grove CPZ Preliminary Consultation and to take part in the survey:
Visit Arnos Grove CPZ Preliminary Consultation | Let’s Talk Enfield

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