THE leader of a campaign against proposed new parking permit restrictions has said dozens of homes and businesses have failed to be consulted properly.

A consultation on the plans to introduce Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in Highams Park and north Chingford closes today (Monday November 5), but it is claimed many were not sent voting forms.

Waltham Forest Council said it launched the consultation after receiving requests from "many" residents for a CPZ and that it will only introduce restrictions in streets where the majority of respondents agree.

But campaigner Mark Brown, 46, who organised an anti-CPZ petition signed by more than 700 people, said many people had told him they were never sent the forms.

It comes after anti-CPZ campaigners in Leyton and Leytonstone claimed that "hundreds" of residents had not been sent voting forms during a consultation on making temporary Olympic parking restrictions permanent.

Liberal Democrat opposition councillor Bob Sullivan said the cabinet member responsible, Cllr Clyde Loakes, had told him that the council had withheld funds from its contractors who were supposed to deliver the forms.

The council is yet to respond to the Guardian's questions on the reasons why payment has reportedly been withheld.

Mr Brown, of Victoria Road in Chingford, said he believed that the problems with distribution were due to the council cutting corners to save money.

He said: "It far exceeds that of just a few, as many tenants living above shops have not received their packs and many know nothing about the CPZ whatsoever.

"It has been left for me and a few dedicated people to walk the whole of Station Road shops and give residents my own printed photocopies [of the voting slips]".

Mr Brown claims he met a member of council staff who was distributing the forms and who admitted that the authority did not know which homes had been given the paperwork.

A rival campaign by residents living in streets near Chingford Station supports new restrictions, saying commuter parking causes major problems for residents wanting to park outside their homes.

More than 300 people have signed a petition in favour of a CPZ.

The CPZ would cost residents between £22.50 and £120 a year if they have one car, but businesses would be forced to pay out £390 for one vehicle. The costs rise for each additional vehicle.

The Guardian is awaiting a comment from the council.