Residents have welcomed detailed plans for controlled parking zones in Crouch End after a long-running dispute with Haringey Council over the controversial issue. It is a major turnaround after initial plans were opposed by 60 per cent of residents duri

Residents have welcomed detailed plans for controlled parking zones in Crouch End after a long-running dispute with Haringey Council over the controversial issue.

It is a major turnaround after initial plans were opposed by 60 per cent of residents during a public consultation.

Under the new proposals - unveiled by councillors at a focus group meeting last Thursday - two new CPZs will be introduced and another will be an extension of the existing Highgate Station CPZ.

Crouch End A CPZ will include Haslemere Road and Dickenson Road, while Crouch End B CPZ will encompass Hurst Avenue and Avenue Road.

The extension to the Highgate Station Outer CPZ, which will include Claremont Road and Stanhope Gardens will operate between the existing periods of 10am and 12pm. Also, all the operational hours decided were Monday to Friday.

Residents and traders who were present at the meeting reacted favourably to the proposals and their suggestions that A should be operational between 10am and 12pm, and B between 2pm and 4pm, were agreed by councillors.

They argued these timings would allow shoppers to have somewhere to park at any time and a two-hour free slot in the middle of the day.

Crouch End councillor Lyn Weber, who chaired the meeting, said: "It was really striking how much thought and effort the residents put in to working with neighbours to make solutions to a difficult problem."

Christopher Freeman, chairman of the Crouch End Traders' Association and owner of Dunns Bakery, said: "I think it seems that common sense has prevailed all round. The proposals of 10am-12pm and 2-4pm make sense so that everybody can co-exist.

"There is a real need for a CPZ in some streets so this should alleviate the severe problems some residents are having."

It is expected that the council will agree to these suggestions in the cabinet meeting next week.

The proposals are based on responses from 1,250 households who took part in the survey.

More than 750 residents opposed plans to introduce CPZ, equivalent to 60 per cent of respondents and compared with 462 who approved of plans.

The roads where residents were most strongly in favour of the CPZ were Mount View Road, where 95 per cent in favour, and Dickenson Road, with 86 per cent.

Ken Wharfe, of Claremont Road, said: "This has been an on going issue for almost two years. When CPZ was introduced to Orchard and Northwood the displacement was horrendous in Claremont.

"The meeting was very positive. If Claremont and Stanhope are awarded CPZ it will be excellent news. When it is implemented I think it will be a good day for the residents of Claremont."

However, residents have predicted a dangerous consequence of the new CPZ. "Those who voted against the CPZ may now be hit by displacement once these proposals are introduced," Mr Wharfe warned.

Mr Freeman said: "You just don't know what effect the displacement parking will have so we'll just have to wait and see."

The final decision on the CPZs will take place on September 16 and enforcement will begin on March 9, 2009.