TRADERS in Temple Fortune are campaigning against parking problems which are driving customers away and putting businesses at risk of closure.

Shop owner Lorretta Paterson launched the campaign to save pay-by-coin meters in Finchley Road after seeing trade fall around 50 per cent in the last couple of weeks as Barnet Council gradually introduced its pay-by-phone system.

Broken meters have already been replaced with pay-by-phone signs, forcing drivers to pay for parking using a debit or credit card and a mobile phone, but the council has announced all meters will be made cashless next week.

Ms Paterson, who owns a jewellery and gift shop called Temptation, said: “The pay-by-phone system is just ridiculous. So many people can’t get used to it, and a lot of older people don’t have a mobile phone or just can’t figure it out.

“The charges are also astronomical. It used to cost 30p to park for half an hour last year, now it costs £1.

“These parking problems are putting people off coming to Temple Fortune and we’re all going to lose our businesses if we don’t do something – three shops have already closed.

“We know we’re in a recession, but this year has definitely been the worst because of the parking.”

The 53-year-old, who was attacked by three men during a carjacking in Finchley Road three years ago, added: “I hate seeing women making themselves vulnerable by getting their cards and mobiles out on the street – it’s not safe.”

More than 20 shop owners have written letters to the council complaining about their parking issues and a petition has been signed by more than 1,000 shoppers.

Panasha Desai is a pharmacist at Landys Chemists which has been in Finchley Road for more than 50 years and has been owned by her father, Girish Desai, for 28 years.

She said: “Parking is affecting local businesses really badly. We used to be a chemist that was always busy and now there are times of the day when we’re standing around twiddling our thumbs, and we’ve had to reduce the hours of our staff.

“This is an area where the majority of the population is predominantly elderly and some of them don’t have mobile phones. It’s a nightmare to park now and people just don’t come here anymore.

“This area has a great village feel but it’s being killed off by ridiculous parking restrictions.”

Others say the pay-by-phone system has been the last straw for customers who were already put off coming to Finchley Road because of the roadworks at Henlys Corner.

But leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, has defended the new system saying: "We have been moving to pay by phone parking for several months now and I have no doubt that once people are registered this will be the most convenient way for residents to pay for their parking.”

The council has also set up PayPoint, an alternative to the pay-by-phone system which allows drivers to pay using cash or a card in certain shops. Although there are two designated PayPoints in Temple Fortune – one at the Co-op petrol station and one at Fabs Food and Wine – they are at least a five to ten minutes walk away from most of the shops.

The council says it also plans to bring forward another form of pre-payment which it hopes to have available before Christmas.

To find out more information about PayPoint and where it is available visit http://www.paypoint.co.uk/