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The Haringey councillor behind the proposed parking schemes has launched an extraordinary verbal attack on residents in the west of the borough particularly Muswell Hill residents accusing them of being abusive, threatening, selfish and 'thinking they are better than most'.

Councillor Brian Haley, executive member for environment, lashed out at those in the west who are opposed to the council's proposed pay and display schemes and controlled parking zones (CPZs), adding he would not meet people in Muswell Hill 'who only want to shout and impose their views on others'.

Asked if he was surprised by the ferocity of opposition to the schemes in Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Hornsey, Bounds Green, Stroud Green and Fortis Green, he said: "No, not at all surprised. But what I am surprised about is the level of abuse and violence my staff are getting when they do parking presentations from those perceived to be from the better half of Haringey.

"So far we've done three presentations in those western parts of the borough and they council staff have felt intimidated, have been threatened, bullied and shouted at. I can appreciate people being exercised about this but the abuse directed at council staff who are only doing their jobs is unacceptable.

"It says something about the better-off in our society."

Asked whom he was referring to specifically, Mr Haley said: "If residents or traders in Muswell Hill actually want to have a dialogue, I'll happily meet them.

"But I'm not going to meet a group of people who believe they deserve a better deal than others in the borough. I thought Muswell Hill people were the most intelligent, refined and polite people, but they don't want a dialogue. All they want to do is impose their views on everybody else. They think about themselves before others."

Seemingly aware his views are likely to cause a stir, the St Ann's ward councillor said later: "I would imagine it's a very small minority."

He then referred to a petition that residents were signing in Crouch End Broadway last Saturday to oppose the council's parking plans and said: "They are getting people to sign a petition, but will they sign a petition to say 4x4s affect the health of children? Would they sign that?"

Mr Haley went on to say he believed people's reactions were overblown. "I'm amazed people could get so exercised about parking," he said.

Mr Haley has been criticised for failing to attend a residents' meeting in Muswell Hill on July 6. "There was no dialogue to be had there," he said. "They wanted to shout at me. Why would I put myself in that position? I won't attend meetings to be screamed at by people who think they are better than most."

He said he was prepared to meet people in Muswell Hill, 'but only if they want a proper dialogue'. "I know the people of Muswell Hill are capable of that," he added.

Martin Brophy, who organised the meeting in Muswell Hill, said: "It's his own paranoia about being shouted at. I would not have allowed people to shout at the meeting. People were angry, but there was no shouting.

"His response is pathetic. This is about respect we want the councillors to respect us. We wanted him to come and explain the reasons for the proposals, but he refused to do that."

4:27pm Thursday 20th July 2006

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