Free parking pilot scheme launched by Enfield Council.

18th October 2014

Free parking pilot scheme launched by Enfield Council.

Anthony Webb will be interested to see the outcome of the pilot scheme outlined below. Tony Ourris, Anthony Webb Director, considers parking a priority in Palmers Green and is keen to work with the Green Lanes Business Association to preserve as many car parking spaces as possible along Palmers Green & Winchmore Hill in an attempt to get residents to shop locally. The possibility of 15 minutes free parking would be a welcome addition to our high street. We will keep you up to date with any feedback from the scheme.

Enfield Council – Press Release

A pilot scheme offering drivers 15 minutes free parking at five of the borough’s town centres has been launched by Enfield Council.

Enfield Council has introduced 11 free stop and shop parking spaces on an experimental basis following discussions with businesses as part of wider efforts to encourage residents to shop locally and boost the borough’s town centres. If the scheme is successful it could be expanded or spread to more locations.

The scheme will consist of two spaces in Enfield Town, two in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, three in Chase Side, Southgate, two in Ponders End High Street and two in Hertford Road Enfield Highway.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety, Cllr Chris Bond, said: “As well as promoting walking, cycling and better bus services, we recognise that parking is of massive importance to our town centres and we work closely with shop owners to make sure there are enough parking spaces offered around the borough and they are affordable and near shops.

“Business owners said it would boost their trade if we introduced free parking for quarter of an hour so that people who want to pop to their local shops for a couple of items can do so without having to buy a pay and display ticket. We’ve listened to what they said and we’ll be trialling this scheme to see how successful it is.

“We are absolutely committed to supporting businesses in Enfield and hopefully this initiative will encourage residents to shop locally, reduce the length of car journeys motorists make and boost our local town centres.

"The Federation of Small Business has conducted research which shows that the more money which is spent locally, the more which stays locally with £1 spent with a local business worth £1.76 to the local economy, in terms of paying rates and tax and creating jobs and wealth in the area.

"That figure drops to just 36 pence if it is spent out of the area. This initiative makes sense for the consumer, businesses, the council and the wider community and I’m very pleased we have been able to introduce this excellent initiative.”

www.enfield.gov.uk