Match day parking restrictions around Allianz Park could be reduced under proposals put forward to Barnet council.

The authority’s environment committee discussed reducing the size of the Saracens’ controlled parking zone (CPZ) at a meeting at Hendon Town Hall last night.

The zone, which affects streets across Hendon and Mill Hill, is currently in use 16 days a year.

Mill Hill councillor John Hart, who introduced the member’s item, said the signs were easily overlooked by “unwary” visitors, with hundreds of tickets issued a year.

Cllr Hart said: “May I suggest serious consideration and consultation on abolishing the CPZ altogether so those 300-odd people are not hit and frankly left dismayed. It goes against the prestige of the borough and the rugby club itself.”

Oakleigh councillor Brian Salinger said he sympathised with Cllr Hart, especially on the size of the CPZ, but the council had a duty to protect residents.

Edgware councillor Joan Scannell agreed the zone was “far too extensive” and mainly hit people visiting their families, while West Hendon councillor Adam Langleben said he opposed scrapping the CPZ, but was in favour of reducing its size.

Finchley Church End councillor Graham Old said he had been “pleasantly surprised” how well the CPZ had worked.

Cllr Old added: “I do worry all the good work done on the buses would suddenly be threatened if we allowed a parking free-for-all.

“We have got to be very careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water, but there is probably a strong case for contracting.”

A report will come back to the environment committee in September on the matter.