Lynne Featherstone

Lib Dems have successfully secured the cancellation of parking tickets andchange of restrictions signage in Southwood Lane, N6.

The cancellations comeafter a number of local residents complained that Haringey Council had ticketedtheir cars on a Saturday even though there should have been no restrictions.

Southwood Lane has had waiting restrictions Monday - Friday 8am-6.30pm andmany residents park there on a Saturday. However, they were stunned toreturn to their cars and find they had received tickets on Saturday morning(16th October). On closer inspection it transpired that Haringey Council hadreplaced all but one of the old signs, with new ones restricting parkingfrom Monday - Saturday, with no notification of these changes. The residentscontacted Lib Dem Councillors who immediately got in touch with the Councildemanding an explanation.

Following enquiries from the Lib Dems and the Highgate Society, Haringey Counciladmitted to erecting the wrong signs, with restrictions on Saturday, whenreplacing the old ones.

They have apologised for the error and have given assurances that the signshave been replaced with ones that state the correct waiting restrictions. They have confirmed that they will be cancellingthe tickets.

The councillors are pleased with the decision. However they areconcerned that mistakes may have been made in other roads in the area andhave asked Haringey Council to investigate. Furthermore Cllr Gail Engert (MuswellHill) is pursuing the Council over compensation for a resident who was towedaway from the road, despite being parked near the only remaining old signthat stated the original Monday to Friday restrictions.

Cllr Featherstone comments: "We are glad that we have got Haringey toadmit its mistake and correct it. However we are concerned that mistakes mayhave been made in other roads in the area and we have asked the Council torecheck its parking signs."

Cllr Gail Engert adds: "There are still some issues that the Council mustresolve including ensuring that residents who received fines are notified oftheir cancellation. I am also trying to get to the bottom of the towing awayincident and find out whether the Council has refunded the resident andoffered compensation for the cost and inconvenience of the removal of theirvehicle."