A standard charge of £3.50 for an hour of parking is being proposed across the Borough of Barnet as part of a revised transport plan aimed at reducing car journeys.

Higher charges are intended to improve air quality and to promote active travel by walking, cycling or the greater use of public transport.

For the first time, a parking charge is being proposed for motorcycles.

All free parking would be withdrawn as part of a draft policy which has opened for public consultation and on which Barnet Council will make decisions next year.

For details of the consultation – which closes on 17 December – see

https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/parking-charges-policy-consultation

If the proposals are approved, this would result in the loss of an hour of free parking in the Moxon Street Car Park which was introduced a decade ago after protests about the loss of free parking in Barnet High Street.

Another concession to be withdrawn is free parking of up to two hours in the dual-use bays on the east side of the A1000 on Hadley Green.

These two concessions would be withdrawn because they provide an incentive to travel by car and are “not compatible” with Barnet’s target to increase the number of trips made by walking, cycling and public transport from a current figure of 50 per cent to 72 per cent by 2041.

Road transport is the largest contributor to air pollution in the borough. The policy is aimed at reducing emissions and reducing traffic in town centres.

To achieve this the council intends to simplify its current piecemeal approach to deciding parking charges.

At present there are 45 different tariff variations across the borough and the cost of an hour’s parking can range from 77 pence to £3.12.

Under the proposed formula the minimum price of an hour’s parking would be the cost of two standard bus fares.

Currently the cost of a single bus journey in Barnet is £1.75 and that would price an hour’s parking at £3.50 rising to £5.25 for up to two hours; £7.00 for up to four hours; and £8.75 for all day.

Minimum stay restrictions would continue to apply, limiting the use of some parking places to shorter stays only.

Motorcycles would no longer be exempt from parking charges in Barnet. Charges would now apply in paid for parking spaces on and off-street and in future a permit would be required to park in controlled parking zones within resident bays.

Blue badge holders would continue to be able to park in paid parking places on and off street without charge when displaying their badge.