CHRISTMAS has come early for traders and residents in Crouch End after the council agreed to give people who shop locally free parking. Haringey Council has teamed up with the traders group, The Crouch End Project, to produce parking vouchers which will

CHRISTMAS has come early for traders and residents in Crouch End after the council agreed to give people who shop locally free parking.

Haringey Council has teamed up with the traders' group, The Crouch End Project, to produce parking vouchers which will give shoppers two hours of free parking in pay and display bays, every time they shop locally in the run up to Christmas.

Chris Freeman, owner of Dunns Bakery in the Broadway and member of the Crouch End Project, was delighted with the initiative.

He said: "I think this is a great idea. Hopefully this will give the Crouch End economy a positive boost. I applaud the efforts of Haringey Council and the Crouch End Project."

Clare Richmond, co-ordinator of the Crouch End Project, said: "I have worked hard for over a year with the council to get an initiative like this off the ground, and will be working with the council to monitor its progress. This forms part of longer term discussions on parking."

Haringey Council leader, Claire Kober, said: "I believe the Crouch End Shopper scheme will prove a significant incentive for people to shop in the area over the festive period. "These measures demonstrate the council's commitment to working with local businesses to help support them through these difficult economic times. I hope that they prove attractive and encourage more people to shop in the area."

Crouch End shoppers can park in parking bays in Tottenham Lane, Weston Park

Crouch Hall Road car park, The Broadway, Middle Lane, Shanklin Road, Crescent Road and Crouch End Hill.

The idea of residents being offered free parking every time they shop in Crouch End has sparked envy in the nearby shopping hubs of Muswell Hill and Highgate.

For the full story see today's Ham&High Broadway.