PLANS to give teachers permits to park near schools will be piloted later this year – but they have drawn criticism.

Barnet Council’s environment committee agreed to roll out the School Permit Scheme for in April for six months in Cricklewood, Golders Green, Edgware and Mill Hill for six months.

But 52 per cent of the 724 neighbours who responded to a consultation oppose the scheme because they fear they may find it hard to park.

Labour cllr Alan Schneiderman said: “We want to support teachers, and equally support residents to have the ability to park.

“There were mixed responses from public consultations, some residents in controlled parking are concerned this might make it hard for them to park.

“We recognise that we want to do as much as we can for teachers and schools to retain teachers, to make sure it is balanced out with local residents.”

Meanwhile 63 per cent of people who live in controlled parking zones oppose the scheme because they say it is already difficult to park on their streets.

But those who are parents of a child who go to school in Barnet strongly favour it.

Chairman of the Environment committee, Councillor Dean Cohen added: “At the moment, schools cannot get permits, so this is to help area teachers. I support the paper put to the committee, there are concerns from residents regarding the number of spaces.

“It will be piloted in different areas to see if it is an issue, then that will be taken into account.”

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