On a theoretical level, though, I have to be in favour of anything that discourages people from unnecessary driving; I think life is made artificially easy for motorists. I’m always a bit surprised at all the furious opposition that greets any suggestion to hold drivers to account for the inconvenience, pollution, and physical danger that cars generate, especially in cities.

I am the person talking about the TFL rip off fares rip off.

Sorry – but it is you who has not fully understood the TFL fare structure.

That is not surprising – it is a form of confusuion marketing and they have given you and many others the impression that kids can travel round all day for £1. You are wrong!

The fares are at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2006/single/tubedlr-4.shtmlre

You are looking at well over £3 per weekday for a child using an Oyster card.

The Oyster card is simply not a transparent way of charging for fares. You “charge up” the card and then your journeys use up the credit – without you knowing exactly what you have been charged for any one jouney.

Secondly, the thought that the problem is down to residents only is just nor correct. We see many many commuters arriving each morning, parking and then walk towards Archway Road and the buses to Archway tube station. I believe then focus should be on stopping the commuter traffic (let them get the tube from where they live in zones 4 or 5 and not drive to Highgate and get the tube from Archway in zone 2) and not penalising the residents. To do this is relatively easy, introduce CPZ for 1 hour in the middle of the day and give resiednts permits for free.

Thirdly, let the council make use of the parking areas that they have. Tudour Close, a council estate just off Hornsey Lane Gardens must have 40 or 50 spaces. There is rarely more than 10 cars in their. Because you need a permit to park the friends of the residents (and residents without a permit) park on the street. This is just madness. Before they made the car park residents only there was no problems.

Finally, the council should make more efforts to remove uninsured cars and those cars without tax. This would obviouley create more spaces.

It is not really resident driven. The Highgate CPZ was fought against bitterly by many more residents than the few that clearly wanted the scheme.

Here, there were a few difficult streets where the majority did want it.

Haringey then “consulted” on the adjacent streets, and if they found a couple of takers that was enough. I am sure it was not democratically balloted, or if it was I suspect it was rigged.

Most days now there are loads of empty parking places in Highgate.

We might all be less cynical if Haringey was willing to GIVE RESIDENTS free permits (and a book of free vouchers so friends can easily visit).

This would prove that the thing was not really just a wheel clampers ticketing charter.

And why should they demand to see my driving licence before giving me a permit?

I note that they don’t demand to see my passport before billing me the council tax.

They could send residents a permit along with the yearly tax bill. Then we might feel like we were dealing with an organisation that actually cared about the local resident – as opposed to fleeced them.

Sadly, our local Lib Dem councillors were not really anti CPZ. Perhaps they will now get behind a campaign for FREE residents permits instead?