Barnet Council still owes refunds to 6,000 residents hit by unlawful parking permit hike
David Attfield (front, centre) with supporters outside the Royal Courts of Justice. Picture: Polly Hancock. - Credit: Archant
Barnet Council are yet to refund 6,000 residents hit by parking permit price hikes which were found to be unlawful in the High Court last year.
Last July, judge Mrs Justice Lang ruled that increases to charges across controlled parking zones (CPZs) in Barnet in order to pay for other transport projects in 2011 were unlawful.
Following the ruling, the council pledged to refund every resident who was affected by the unlawful price hike and requested their money back - a bill totalling around £2million.
Last week, the council confirmed it had so far refunded 17,000 permit holders out of a potential 23,000.
A spokesman added: “We are writing, emailing and telephoning people to let them know if they are eligible for a refund.
“The refunds have been advertised widely in a number of publications, including Barnet First, and we are currently processing around 500 refunds per week.”
East Finchley resident David Attfield, 46, brought a two-year battle against the increased controlled parking zone (CPZ) charges - spearheaded by Cllr Brian Coleman, then cabinet member for environment - to the Royal Courts of Justice last year.
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He insisted the unlawful ruling would have national ramifications - if Barnet Council had won the judicial review, local councils across the country would have found themselves with sweeping powers to use parking as a revenue-raising service.
