A SURPRISE consultation on proposals to introduce Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in Chingford and Highams Park has been criticised as a waste of time and money.


The council began sending out voting slips this week to households around Highams Park station and north Chingford over proposals to charge people between £22.50p to £120 annually - if they have one car - to park in their street.


The council says CPZs will only be introduced where the majority of respondents vote yes and said there had been “many requests” for a consultation in both Chingford and Highams Park.


However it comes just weeks after the authority dropped plans for temporary CPZs in the same areas during the Olympics following fierce opposition.


Opposition Conservative party leader Cllr Matt Davis accused the council's Labour leadership of “declaring war” on Chingford and said the authority had given no prior warning of the consultation.


He said: “One would have thought they would have better things to do with their budget and officers than spend money consulting on a CPZ which is not wanted by the vast majority of residents.


“This is the fourth CPZ consultation in north Chingford in recent years and every time it's been rejected.”


Cllr Davis said households living in the immediate vicinity of Chingford and Highams Park station  were supportive of schemes to stop commuters parking outside their homes during the day, but said for most homes it was not a problem.


He added: “I can't stress strongly enough that if you're opposed that you fill in your consultation form because petitions will not be taken into account.”
 

Mark Brown, 46, of Victoria Road Neighbourhood Watch, said many residents in his neighbourhood were strongly opposed to the proposals.


He said there was particular concern over the impact on businesses, especially following the council's closure of car parks  in the area.
 

He said: “We are going to lose our daytime shoppers and visitors to the area.


“Knowing other areas in the borough, it is a fact that the current CPZ has not reduced parking congestion and has appeared to be a money-making exercise.”


Mr Brown added that there was also concern about plans to put yellow lines in front of dropped kerbs outside homes in CPZ zones.


The consultation closes on Monday November 5.

It comes just weeks after furores in Leyton, Leytonstone and Walthamstow over similar CPZ consultations.