A CPZ in Highams Park will be the “nail in the coffin” for dozens of businesses in the area, employers have warned.

Businesses claim they are being “unfairly penalised” and will be forced out of the area if the scheme proposed by Waltham Forest council is approved, while residents have provided a mixed response.

This is understood to be fifth time since 2001, a CPZ has been proposed for the area, but never on this scale and it comes just two years after the idea was last rejected by the community.

The consultation into permit parking covers 34 streets and was launched by the council on Monday.

The area is served by Highams Park station, which is used by over 1.6m people every year, but has no commuter car park.

There is free 15 minute parking for shoppers and Tesco’s 350-space car park has three hours free parking.

Depending on fuel emission, annual residents’ permits will range from £12.50 for the first car to £120, whereas an annual business permit starts at £390 and increases to £570 for the third car.

Owner of Highams Park Motor Co, Stuart Welton, said it could cost his business £2,000 in permits on top of £9,000 a-year business rates.

He said: “A blanket CPZ is not the answer, and if it comes in, I will have to lay off two staff members or consider moving.

“Business permits are four-times the amount of a resident’s permit – it is a money-making scheme for the council.

“Shops in this area aren’t thriving, they’re just about staying alive.

“This will kill the little shops and be the final nail in the coffin for shops along Winchester Road.

“I perfectly appreciate residents’ concerns but you will find it will restricts peoples’ movement and a CPZ does not guarantee everyone a spot.”

Bike shop Heales Cycles has been based in Hale End Road since 1937, and run by Ashley Morgan for the last 20 years.

Mr Morgan said the scheme was nothing more than an “unfair tax” on people who own a car.

He argued: “I am dead against it.

“People who come from outside the area don’t understand the parking restrictions in Waltham Forest, they are scared to park in the main road, so park in side streets, which will all become permit only.

“If my footfall continues to drop anymore, and it will if this goes ahead, I will consider moving out.

“The council see Highams Park and Chingford as a cash-cow and all this will do is pitch neighbour against neighbour – it will ruin Highams Park and the community.

“A solution would be providing commuters with a safe, affordable car park.”

Resident Amelia Pullin, 65, of Handsworth Avenue has been calling for a CPZ for the last seven years to tackle parking problems.

The road is served by a GP surgery, a nursery, primary school and Highams Park secondary school.

The Whipps Cross Hospital worker, said: “I would love a CPZ.

“It’s an absolute nightmare for parking and has always been this way.

“I try to use my car as least as possible and don’t ever drive to work at night because I can’t get a spot in the morning.”

Since the station car park land was developed into flats, residents claim Coolgardie Avenue has become overrun with commuters.

Ian Pavelin has been living in Coolgardie Avenue for 22 years and said it has become a parking destination for people travelling to the airport by train.

“We see them park up, unload their suit cases and then disappear on holiday.

“People who don’t live here, park here all day and all week long.

“Commuters patrol the road from 6am - they wait for a car to leave and jump in the space.

“I don’t care what it costs, we need it and it will solve the problems in this road.

“However, what they are charging businesses is wrong –that is the council being greedy.”

John Avis, 68, has lived in Beech Hall Road his whole life and has campaigned on each occasion to stop a CPZ in the area.

Over 5,000 posters against the CPZ, produced by Mr Avis, will be distributed locally in the coming days.

He said: “The whole thing in a money-making scam and the timing of the move is not accidental with school’s breaking up and people going on holiday.

“I think the council is pulling a fast one.

“They’ve got to raise money somehow so will sell space on the road to park which is already free.

“What part of the answer ‘no’ did they not understand last time?”

Those affected have until August 10 to submit their vote.

The council has been approached for a comment.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Map of the proposed CPZ area for Highams Park