PLANS to introduce pay and display parking on a busy high street have been met with fierce opposition.

Documents seen by the Guardian yesterday (November 28) reveal Redbridge Council plans to impose parking charges on Wanstead High Street from February 2017.

After analysing parking habits, the council wants to introduce a pay and display system on the high street, giving shoppers the first 30 minutes free, to give everyone “a fair chance to park”.

It also proposes giving resident permits to people living in several roads off the high street to stop shoppers and commuters clogging them up.

But high street business owners have branded the plans “punitive” and “unfair”, with residents claiming they will be a “nightmare” for shoppers.

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Ginger Pig manager, Liam Moore

The Ginger Pig manager Liam Moore, said: “The high street should be free for everyone.

“We want people to come and enjoy doing their shopping here, and not feel like they have to rush through it all in 30 minutes.

“If people only have half an hour, they won’t be able to go everywhere they want to, so businesses will lose out.

“I agree with permits for residents, but high street parking charges won’t be good for anyone.”

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The Currant Owner, Laverne Udeze

The Currant café owner Laverne Udeze agreed: “It really doesn’t help promote café culture, which is something people really value in Wanstead.

“Unless they’re going to give business owners reduced-price permits, on top of the high business rates we pay it seems a bit punitive.”

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Target Fit personal training, Wanstead High Street (Photo: Google)

Writing on Facebook, Target Fit employee Bradley Gilling added: “This doesn’t do businesses any favours.

“We are constantly getting complaints about parking, so this would make things so much more difficult for us.”

Shoppers are currently restricted from parking in Wanstead High Street between 9.30am and 10.30am to stop commuters taking up spaces in the busy shopping hub all day.

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Thousands of signatures were signed against similar plans in 2011.

But documents show the council plans to introduce pay and display measures under an “experimental traffic order”, which means they do not need to consult residents or businesses, despite thousands opposing similar plans in 2011.

Snaresbrook Cllr Suzanne Nolan said: “Regrettably this Labour council thinks it can do this kind of thing without consultation.

“A couple of years ago they tried doing this and businesses and residents came out in absolute force against it.

“At the same time I have had two complaints about parking in Wanstead in the last 24 hours.

“So maybe we do need to look at things again, but it cannot be a blanket measure.

“The people who live in Wanstead need to be consulted on this.”

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Harvey's greengrocers owner, Sinan Ereur 

Harvey’s greengrocer Sinan Ereur said he thinks half an hour free is “not enough” and one hour would be more appropriate.

His neighbour More Italy café owner Vincenzo Cossari is very worried what the plans might mean for his business.

He said: “The Snaresbrook part of the high street is already penalised in lots of ways.

“We don’t get Christmas lights, or parking spaces.

“So parking charges on the rest of the high street would be a very serious problem for us - I believe business will drop."

But several people commenting on Facebook say the high street is “too clogged up” and charges are “not unreasonable” and would “raise revenue”.

The documents claim changes will be outlined in leaflets sent out in December, and discussed at information sessions at Wanstead Library between 2pm and 7pm on December 14 and 10pm and 2pm on December 17.

Cabinet member for environment and sustainability Cllr John Howard said: "The scheme we are proposing to introduce on Wanstead High Street is about supporting local businesses.

"Anyone who uses the High Street regularly (like me) will know it is impossible to park anywhere near the shops due to all day commuter parking.

"With our 30 min free parking, this scheme will give people a better chance to park up, meet their friends for a coffee or get groceries."

A spokesman added the new parking charges will cost £1.20 for an hour and £2.90 for two hours.