Wow! What a turnout! We knew you all agreed that this consultation is nonsense, and we are overwhelmed by your support and interest in stopping it from becoming a reality.
I want to thank everyone who attended the public meeting on the 5th of September, as well as extend a big thank you to the Walker Cricket Ground for generously allowing us to use their function hall.
Rather than repeat what has already been said, I’d like to share a report written by Ivor Davies, a resident and attendee of the meeting, who I believe captured and summarised the event very well.
First thing to note was how well attended the meeting was, well in excess of 200 people. The function room was full to overflowing, every chair in the building was used and it was standing room only after that.
Daniel Anderson, former deputy leader of Enfield Council, hosted the meeting along with a number of other campaign organisers, barrister Joshua Munro, Arnos Grove Ward Councillor Paul Pratt and Labour MP for Southgate and Wood Green Bambos Charalambous.
Barrister Joshua Munro spoke of the legal implications. Enfield Council has now abandoned seeking resident approval for imposing CPZs and is instead imposing them based on “environmental policy”. According to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 CPZs are only to be used to address parking issues and not for any other purpose. Enfield are therefore acting beyond their powers (the legal term is called acting “Ultra Vires”) and therefore their actions are illegal.
Every person in the room opposed the proposed CPZ scheme and many points were raised from the floor including:
Users of the Arnos Park Bowling Green were concerned there would be no parking for visiting players, some of whom are elderly.
Concern was raised regarding the potential for excessive speeding of cars in Brookdale if parking was discouraged on the road.
Mention was made that there is no documented evidence that imposing a CPZ would result in addressing any of the environmental issues that Enfield Council claim it would.
Everybody who spoke was concerned about the financial impact on residents, and the resulting restricted availability of spaces and spoke of how unnecessary it is to have a CPZ imposed when there are no issues with parking on the Minchenden Estate.Councillor Paul Pratt and MP Bambos Charalambous declared their full support for the opposition of the proposed schemes and that resident’s concerns would be communicated to those concerned. The barrister Joshua Munro has now written a specific “Legal Concerns” letter to Ian Davis, Chief Executive of Enfield Council, requesting that the council takes immediate steps to rectify their stance, a copy of which can be viewed via the link here. We await their response.
Ifor Davies
Letter by Joshua Munro : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TBqWJEgiyS2wm6vuDY2fmKGWGPP_AB86/view