Moxon Street car park, which has 64 spaces, is now available for up to an hour of free parking. In addition, two instead of one hour of free parking is now being offered in the dual-use bays on Hadley Green.
As a further boost to traders the Council has agreed to allow free parking in council car parks over three weekends in the run-up to Christmas – 7/8, 14/15 and 21/22 December.
The decision to provide space for free parking at both Moxon Street car park and Hadley Green – which came into force on Monday 2 December – is seen as a response to the long-running campaign by some traders and local groups for half an hour of free parking in the 22 spaces on the High Street.
At present free parking is only allowed on the High Street in loading bays where motorists can stop for 15 minutes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The campaign to secure free parking in and around the High Barnet town centre has had the support of local groups including the Chipping Barnet Town Team, Barnet Society and Barnet Residents Association.
Many of their members have long argued that High Barnet traders and residents have lost out because free parking is allowed in other nearby shopping centres such as Whetstone High Road, Potters Bar and London Colney.
The new tariffs in High Barnet are:
- Moxon Street car park: up to 1 hour free; up to 2 hours £2.00; up to 4 hours £2.50.
- Hadley Green dual-use bays (resident and business permits, long stay pay by phone): up to 2 hours free; over 2 hours £4.55.
- Free bays in the High Street operate in loading bays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and allow 15 minutes free parking (no return within one hour).
All other High Barnet car park tariffs remain the same.
Would it be better to allow a free half-hour parking in the spaces along the High Street?
What is the verdict of High Barnet residents and traders? Is up to an hour free parking in the Moxon Street car park the right solution for High Barnet? Would it be better to allow a free half-hour parking in the spaces along the High Street?
Please give your comments.