TRADERS in Mill Hill's main shopping street have backed a campaign to get an hour's free parking there.

The Liberal Democrat candidates for May's council elections have been running a petition to get one hour's free parking in Mill Hill Broadway to help boost local shops.

John Myers, who has run Goodwood Furniture for 12 years, said the cost of parking is something which deters customers.

The trader, who has owned a shop in the street for 12 years, said: “The cost of parking in Mill Hill is contributing to its decline as a shopping centre, it's prohibitive.

“Barnet doesn't seem to be taking account of the impact of parking charges on traders big or small. If I had Tesco next to me they would affect them the same.

“The prices are too high and there are not enough spaces for peak times. Even if they cut the costs it would make it better.”

He said the Free After 3 scheme run by Barnet over Christmas, with free on street parking after 3pm, had made a small difference to his business.

But he added: “It would have been better if it was longer term. People didn't necessarily realise parking was free, so they didn't take as much advantage of it as they might have done.”

Shabhna Patel, who has owned Broadway News for 14 years, also backed the petition.

She said: “It's so restricted at the moment. We have several times had tickets when we are unloading from the wholesalers, even though we have a notice about it in the car window.

“It definitely puts people off parking down here, so anything that encourages people back to the high street instead of big shops would be a good thing.”

David O'Hagan, who has worked in Cooksleys Butchers for 21 years, said the loss of free parking in Marks & Spencer car park has also impacted on the street.

He said: “Things have got a lot more restricted since I first started here. They never used to have parking charges and the street was always busy.

“It would certainly be better if people are able to stop for half an hour and pick up a pint of milk without having to pay anything towards it.

“We do need restrictions to stop people taking advantage and parking all day, but some sort of leeway would be helpful.”

To sign the petition click the related link below.

Should more be done to encourage shopping in the borough's high streets? Leave your thoughts below.