TRADERS say plans to halve the amount of free parking time available to customers could be the “final nail in the coffin” for independent shops in Potters Bar.

Shopkeepers from High Street and Darkes Lane held an emergency meeting last Monday to mobilise a campaign against the proposals, which will see the current one hour free parking period reduced to 30 minutes.

Spearheaded by Joy Prince, owner of Lee Joy School uniform shop in High Street, petitions have been placed in a number of businesses in the town and she is encouraging members of the public to write to Hertsmere Borough Council in protest.

She said: “Our message to residents is clear – help us save your high street by saying no to free parking being taken away.”

The trader added: “We object to the changes because we feel the one hour free parking has really worked. It has helped traders through the recession in the past couple of years.

“We are all struggling to keep our businesses going and this could be the final nail in the coffin. It gives supermarkets, which have free parking, an unfair advantage in an already difficult and competitive situation.

“By reducing the free parking to 30 minutes, people will not have enough time to visit a few shops and make purchases.

“There is a clear consensus between traders that we need to fight to keep the one hour free parking going.”

Hertsmere Council say it is introducing price hikes across the borough, as it needs to make savings of around £2 million this year. The changes are expected to be put in place this Summer.

The measure will mean a 20 pence charge for up to an hour is applied, while the first 30 minutes remains free, for on-street parking. Where there is a second hour of on-street parking permitted, it will cost £1.

Chris Piercey, owner of Elaines Stationers in Darkes Lane, feared that these plans were the beginning of the end for any free parking in Potters Bar.

He said: “It will be devastating for the town. The one hour works perfectly. We have the post office and most of the banks in Darkes Lane. If you only have half an hour, most of that is going to be used up queuing and won't allow people to visit the shops.

“I think it is inevitable that they will eventually get rid of it all together. This scheme has kept the shops in business for several years. How can we hope to carry on competing against supermarkets that have got free parking?”