Councillors met with residents last week to discuss problems caused by vehicle dumping on roads in Coppetts.

More than 100 people attended the “extremely heated” meeting at the Freehold Centre on Alexandra Road to discuss the ongoing issues, which mean residents are often unable to leave their cars on the congested roads.

The event, which took place on Wednesday (June 6), was also attended by Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, Labour councillors Barry Rawlings and Reema Patel, and Police Constable Thomas Whelan.

The most severely affected roads are Pembroke Road, Cromwell Road, Hampden Road and Strode Close.

Bridgit Jacottet, who lives on Pembroke Road, said: “There are doors hanging open and tires left out. I have got two kids and can never park in the road. It just seems to be getting worse.

“They say ‘phone up and we’ll move the car’ – but if it’s 11 o’clock at night, it is not a solution.

“The businesses have got more and more successful, and that area is becoming more and more industrialised. The garages have contracts with Camden Council and Kier, and all of their fleets of vans are parked out there.”

As well as parking problems, residents say they have had to put up with oil spills, litter and noise pollution from the businesses.

Cllr Rawlings, who represents Coppetts ward, said councillors were committed to working with residents to find a solution to the problems.

He said: “I think two of the garages are part of a bigger warranty. If a car has a crash on the North Circular in the area, it gets picked up and delivered, and all they can do is leave the car in a parking space on the road.

“Most insurance companies say it is a write-off, and it can be there for ages. It has caused problems for a long time.

“One of the garage owners showed up to the meeting, and people gave the opinion that it should be closed down – but the council does not have the power to do that.

“If they have planning permission to work as garages, there is no reason to close them down.

“We can look at a traffic-based solution, like a CPZ [controlled parking zone], where you can restrict the number of spaces businesses can park in.”

Cllr Rawlings said the council had previously sent enforcement officers to the streets, but they had not seen any signs of illegal activity on those occasions.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Chipping Barnet area committee on Monday, July 9 at Hendon Town Hall.