A new parking policy in North Finchley is “a step in the right direction” but traders want to see Barnet Council do more to bring shoppers back to the dwindling high streets.

Reduced charges and short-stay bays form the basis of a new trial in the busy shopping precint due to be introduced by parking portfolio holder Dean Cohen on November 19.

The move follows a three-month consultation into the council’s parking policy in North Finchley – the first of several reviews in town centres across the borough.

Café owner Helen Michael spearheaded a pressure group of traders urging the council to reverse parking measures brought in by Councillor Cohen’s predecessor in the hope of rejuvenating business on the High Road.

Ms Michael said: “I would have liked the charges to come down a bit more. They’re making moves in the right direction but the changes don’t go far enough.

“In my opinion it is a demonstration that they have started listening at last but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Among the changes are a 35 per cent reduction in on-street charges, the introduction of six debit or credit card payment machines for on-street parking and a 15-minute free parking period in loading bays after 10am.

A number of on-street parking bays will be restricted to a two hour maximum stay to increase the turnover in spaces and short-stay pay-by-phone bays will also be introduced.

In a number of off-street car parks in the area, designated business parking bays will be created to free up spaces on the High Road.

Ms Michael said: “Dean Cohen has obviously thought very carefully about it. We like the 15 minutes free parking and short-stay bays but I still think it is very expensive. People said we were wasting our time by keeping on at them but they’re making moves now.”

Traders held a meeting last month to discuss how to bring customers back but Barnet Council said just 24 per cent of businesses contacted actually responded to the three-month consultation.

Ms Michael said: “A lot of businesses approached me and said they didn’t receive a questionnaire. I’ve asked for the figures on who responded but I feel the whole consultation was a total waste of time and money – they knew what the issues were.

“I don’t know if it was just a time wasting ploy but I’d rather they just spent the money on parking.

“I’m trying to focus on the positives and encourage people back to North Finchley. We want to make this area more attractive to families and shoppers and with this money we’re hoping to be able to do that.”

The Times Series has been unable to contact Cllr Cohen this afternoon but in a statement issued last night, the cabinet member for environment said: “I hope traders will be promoting the area as a place to shop over the Christmas period. I am obviously hoping that these changes will increase turnover of for both shops and car parking in the area.

“I hope residents will make the most of their local high-street and take advantage of the wide variety of shops on offer in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.”