Parking prices lowered in Edgware - but traders say more needs to be done (From Times Series)

Parking prices lowered in Edgware - but traders say more needs to be done

11:17am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News By Natalie O'Neill

Barnet Borough Council is lowering the price of parking in Edgware – but traders say more needs to be done to help their “dying” high street.

Following a consultation the council will temporarily charge drivers a reduced rate to park in Station Road, Hale Lane, Edgwarebury Lane and Penshurst Gardens from Monday, February 11.

Prices will drop from £1 for up to 30 minutes parking to 35p for up to 15 minutes, and from £3 for up to 90 minutes to £1.95. The new charges will be in place for a minimum of six months after which the council will decide whether to change them permanently.

But struggling business owners say pay-by-phone parking, wide pavements and “confusing” road layouts are at the root of Edgware’s trading problems.

Abdullah Mojadiddy, owner of Kabul City Restaurant in Station Road, said: “It doesn’t matter they’re putting the prices down – we want more parking spaces and to be able to pay using coins. Since the pay by phone system Edgware is dying because less people are coming here.

“The pavements are far too large – they could be halved to make way for more parking spaces. If the council did this, and people could pay by coins, the high street would do well.”

John O’Connell manager of Rock Around The Clock in Station Road, said: “The pay by phone system is still a massive problem – people don’t want to use it. People just want to use a bit of change in their pocket.

“Another problem is the layout of the roads and pavements – they haven’t changed since the 1960s and it’s not working anymore.

“Coming out of the Broadwalk Centre into Station Road there are two lanes turning into one and one lane turning into two – it’s all wrong. More needs to be done than just lowering the prices.”

Sean O’Connor, part owner of Shorns barbers in The Quadrant, agrees more needs to be done to encourage shoppers to come to Edgware.

He said: “I think lowering the price of parking is good news but I still think the council needs to put the machines back so people have the option to pay using coins. If customer is king – we need to make it easier for them to park.”

As part of the plans, there will also be a three hour maximum stay limit for disabled badge holders in existing short stay pay-by-phone parking places in Station Road, Hale Lane, Edgwarebury Lane, Penshurst Gardens, The Drive, Manor Park Crescent and High Street. And, a new 20 minute maximum stay free parking space from 8am-8pm Monday to Saturdays in Old Rectory Gardens outside the Edgware Delivery Office.

Councillor Dean Cohen said: “This is part of our ongoing review of parking in the borough’s town centres which began in North Finchley.

“As I have said before I don’t think a one size fits all approach to pricing necessarily works and that’s why we will be trialling these changes.

“This is intended to provide a welcome boost to the area and encourage residents to make the most of what their high street has to offer.”