FURIOUS traders have slammed Barnet council’s “ludicrous” decision to take over a car park for its employees, which they fear could “kill the high street”.

Motorists can no longer use Athenaeum Road Car Park, in Whetstone, from 9.30am to 6pm on weekdays, except for council staff based at Barnet House.

Business owners say the authority gave no warning, and fear the impact it will have on parking in surrounding streets.

Patrick James, owner of a menswear shop of the same name, said: “It is absolutely ludicrous. The amount of money we are spending on business rates, and they are taking away my customers. It will kill the high street. The irony is they are doing it for their own good.

“Instead of saying permit holders only, they should have written employees only. That is what gets me, the underhandedness of it. It stinks.”

Parking is free on the high street in Whetstone for most of the day, but Mr James, 47, said it was extremely difficult to get a space.

The nearby Waitrose and Marks and Spencer also offer free parking, but only for customers.

Mr James said many council employees were also parking on nearby streets to avoid having to buy a permit for the car park – leaving it mostly empty.

Richard Wood, owner of Woody’s Boyswear, said: “Our customers cannot get in the car park anymore, which is totally outrageous. The council are paying the owner to use it for their staff only, which means taxpayers’ money is going to pay the private owner.

“We were not even warned. There was no consultation, nothing through the door at all.

“If people cannot park round there, they are not going to stop. There will be more shops closing in the high street. It is difficult enough trading as it is.”

Barnet council took over the car park after hundreds of employees were transferred to its Whetstone offices. The authority says the move will boost trade in the area, with extra money being spent in shops and cafes.

But Mr Wood, 46, said: “It won’t make any business for me. It might improve trade for some of the sandwich bars, but won’t make any difference to me.

“The car park is not even full because staff don’t want to pay, and the streets are even busier than they were.”

Mel Djevdet, owner of Emel’s Cutting Edge salon, said: “Every morning we are all fighting for spaces. It is chaotic. It will drive my clients away. It was always used for people using the tube, so it will hit commuters too. There was no notice at all. It is wrong.”

Anne Rigg, who lives in Oakleigh Gardens nearby, said more people were parking in her street as a result.

She said: “I am one of the lucky ones with off street parking, but if you don’t have it, your life is a misery from now on. People cannot get out of their drives, or get in. Buses go up and down that road too.

“It has a total knock on effect. If I have visitors, I ask them to park in that car park. It will ruin the business here.”

A Barnet council spokesman said: “The move of 700 council staff into Barnet House in Whetstone will bring significant benefits to the local economy, with additional money being spent in local shops and cafes.

“The new arrangement will see council staff use the private car park during working hours only, with other motorists able to use the car park as usual during the weekend and after 6pm Monday to Friday.”