PROPOSALS to extend “authoritarian” parking restrictions in Edgware have been dropped by Barnet Council.

It comes after a petition, signed by 238 people, was presented to the authority last week, objecting to the plans.

A consultation was carried out last year about extending a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), which operates 10am to 11am Monday to Friday, to include Oakleigh Gardens and surrounding streets.

The council said the proposals were in response to concerns from people in Oakleigh Gardens – but critics said it was “unnecessary”, and an “overblown” response.

But it was announced at the Hendon area committee last Wednesday (January 13) the proposals had been scrapped.

Myk Tucker, of Hillersdon Avenue, Edgware, who launched the petition, welcomed the news.

He said: “I am delighted. It is a victory for common sense.”

The petition stated: “We the undersigned hereby object to an extension of the Edgware CPZ in our street, nor do we support the restricted parking times, parking bays, extortionate charges for parking permits, fines and penalty charges, yellow lines, white lines, signage, posts and other street furniture that are associated with authoritarian parking control in our street.”

Steven Garfinkel, of Orchard Drive, told the Times Series last November: “There is a problem down Oakleigh Gardens, and people are getting fed up there. But they want to include all our roads. If you look down the road here, there are not loads of cars.

“I refuse to pay for parking outside my own home. Why should I have to pay for it? We pay our council tax. The other problem is once it is installed, you cannot get rid of it.”

The Times Series is awaiting comment from Barnet Council.