Warning that lifting restrictions could result in visitors’ vouchers being sold to football fans

Published: 21 January, 2011

Match-day parking ‘free-for-all’ fears 

HIGHBURY-based news­paper columnist Peter Oborne has joined the growing row over fears of a “parking free-for-all” in Islington.

He spoke out as furious residents warned that Islington Council’s plan to provide unlimited parking vouchers for visitors could result in further traffic disruption on Arsenal match days.

An email leaked to the Tribune reveals that at least one Labour councillor, Theresa Debono, is worried about the plan.

Cllr Debono has written to a resident: “I am surprised to learn that parking vouchers are allowed to be used during match days. 

“If this is so, then with residents being allowed to buy as many vouchers as they wish, it will become a ‘free-for-all’. If this is so, something needs to be done.”

Mr Oborne said that, while he liked the idea of more visitor vouchers, he feared the scheme would be open to abuse. “Commuters will take advantage of the scheme to park near the Tube or in Highbury on match days,” he said. “The council must have a proper consultation and proper procedures before they introduce these schemes.”  

The Labour-controlled council plans to allow residents’ permit-holders freedom to park in any residential bay in the borough between the hours of 11am and 3pm and to introduce unlimited parking vouchers for visitors.

The scheme, already opposed by residents in Archway, is due to be implemented next month. 

Critics claim it has not been properly thought through.

Highbury Hill resident Adrian Buchanan, 46, head of research for Banker magazine at the Financial Times, said the plan was being rushed through without proper consultation.

Married with two small children, Mr Buchanan fears that allowing unlimited visitors’ vouchers will create chaos. 

“Vouchers for visitor parking have always been restricted for very good reasons,” he said. “There just isn’t the space. What is to stop a resident from buying 100 vouchers and giving them away to football fans or even selling them?

“There are not enough parking bays for fans already. Fans have been known to fraudulently use disabled stickers. They park on double-yellow lines or in residential parking bays. I’ve gone out on match days and not been able to park outside my home when I return.

“The council say they will monitor the use of visitor permits. How on earth are they going to do it?”

Another resident, Sue Jandy,  said that when the Lib Dems were in power they were condemned by the then Labour opposition and a “great majority”  of residents for the high-handed way they handled the “ridiculous and ill-thought-out” Sobell consultation. 

She added: “In my view, these parking changes have been handled in a similar cack-handed way.”

Labour environment chief Councillor Paul Smith said: “We’re on the side of residents and felt that limiting permit holders to only 10 visitor parking vouchers a year was far too restrictive. 

“That’s why we decided to give residents more freedom and lift the cap on the number of vouchers they can apply for, so people can have friends, relatives and tradesmen visit when they want.

“We’ve got a plan to monitor closely the issuing and use of the vouchers, particularly on match days, and will come down hard on any misuse. 

“However, I am confident the overwhelming majority of people are not going to make life in their own street difficult by misusing vouchers.”