Charlotte Newton TRADERS in Crouch End have called on Haringey Council to build a car park to prevent shoppers from going elsewhere – if plans for a controlled parking zone get the go-ahead. Andrew Georgiou owns Broadway Dry Cleaners opposite the clock to

Charlotte Newton

TRADERS in Crouch End have called on Haringey Council to build a car park to prevent shoppers from going elsewhere - if plans for a controlled parking zone get the go-ahead.

Andrew Georgiou owns Broadway Dry Cleaners opposite the clock tower in Crouch End Broadway. Like many of his shop-owning colleagues, he is concerned that plans to introduce parking restrictions in the residential areas of Crouch End could drive customers away.

Mr Georgiou, 40, said: "I feel very strongly about parking in Crouch End and I've got real fears that these proposals could stop people from coming to my shop.

"But I am also sensitive to residents' needs and understand they want these restrictions because commuters have been parking outside their homes. It is up to the council to provide more parking spaces.

"The amount of money the council rakes in from shoppers in Crouch End is astronomical. They have cameras, traffic wardens and now Smart Cars to fine people for parking, so they should be investing some of that money in providing extra parking spaces."

Mr Georgiou believes that the council should buy a plot of land specifically for use as a car park.

Chris Freeman, chairman of the Crouch End Traders' Association, also conceded that building a car park in Crouch End would be a "wonderful solution" to balancing residents' needs with traders' business interests.

He said: "We have very limited parking in Crouch End. In an ideal world building a car park would be a wonderful solution. But I'm not sure of any available space."

Mr Freeman, who owns Dunn's Bakery, added: "The other idea that traders have come up with is to introduce parking restrictions for one hour between 1-2pm. This would stop commuters from parking all day and leave space for shoppers.

"The important point is for businesses and residents to work together to find a solution."

The council was unable to provide figures on how many parking spaces are available for shoppers in the area.

However, Cllr Brian Haley, spokesman for the environment and conservation, said: "We are consulting local people and traders about parking issues in the area.

"The response we get to that consultation will determine the way forward. It might lead to a CPZ, but no decision has been taken.

"The consultation was prompted by the residents after they expressed their concerns to us about parking in the area."

The aim of the controlled parking zone is to make it easier for residents living in the area from Shepherds Hill to Ferme Park Road to park in their own roads by stopping commuters using the spaces all day.

The consultation is to find out if residents want restricted parking and is due to run until June 16.

But the Broadway revealed last week that Haringey Council sent 2,000 consultation documents to the wrong homes. The blunder means that hundreds of homes that should have been included in the month-long consultation were erroneously excluded.

charlotte.newton@hamhigh.co.uk