The Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents' Association (HGSRA) has written to Barnet Council, setting out their objections to the proposed controlled parking zone (CPZ), due to be implemented in October.

In their letter to the head of the council's highways and design department, sent last week August 5, the HGSRA argued that the current healthy, successful and high-quality shopping area' of Temple Fortune will be adversely affected by the creation of a new set of highly restrictive parking controls'.

The association also argues that when consulted, 54 per cent of residents opposed a CPZ in Temple Fortune and only 17 per cent said they favoured a scheme, which, it says, will probably be rolled out to those who are against it anyway.

The proposed CPZ includes roads around the shopping area of Temple Fortune, such as Temple Fortune Lane, Asmuns Place, part of Hampstead Way and Hayes Crescent.

Gary Shaw, chairman of the association's roads and traffic committee, said residents felt betrayed by the new proposals, which now incorporate part of Bridge Lane into the scheme, something which was not originally suggested.

"The council told us at an informal meeting in May that there was a possibility that Hayes Crescent would be included," he explained. "But that if it was included, it would be the only road included in that section of Temple Fortune, and that we could trust them that this CPZ would be a small one.

"And yet, even before they have painted the first line on the road, it's bigger than they said it would be."

A council spokesperson said: "The consultation period on the proposed Temple Fortune CPZ is ongoing and comments received by August 11 will be taken into consideration.

"This is additional consultation before we do the statutory process. Not all councils do this."

She added: "We are listening to residents."