Campaigners calling for the council to retain 15-minute free parking in Waltham Forest high streets have put together a petition of more than 3,000 signatures.

Back on December 15 last year, the Labour council’s cabinet agreed to scrap the free parking scheme and replace it with a free hour of parking from 1pm to 2pm in town centres across the borough.

But the decision caused uproar from business owners and opposition Conservatives councillors called an extraordinary meeting on January 13 at Waltham Forest Town Hall.

The council said it was scrapping the scheme because in April last year the Government introduced a statutory 10-minute grace period which had caused confusion.

It went back to the drawing board after the meeting and in February agreed to keep the “pop and shop” provision, with the 10-minute grace period being added to a free five-minutes parking.

The proposed free hour of parking at 1pm to 2pm is also included in the plans.

But campaigners have hit back, saying this will cause confusion.

Posters have been seen in shop windows and more than 2,500 people have signed these shop petitions, with another 650 people signing via the Change.org website.

Larkswood Conservative councillor, John Moss, said: “If the signs say five minutes, people just won’t stop and we can’t afford to lose the business that comes from those people who rely on their cars.

“It’s a fantasy to think that trade will be replaced by cyclists and Labour’s claim that with the Government’s 10 minute grace period this means there’s really no change, is disingenuous at best.

“We’re also running a survey as part of our campaign and more than 75 per cent of respondents don’t know about the grace period.”

If 4,000 sign a petition, a debate can be requested at a full council meeting at Waltham Forest town hall.

Rimon Islam, operations manager for five Costa Coffee stores in the borough added: “Hundreds of customers have signed the petitions in our coffee shops.

“15 minutes is just about OK, but really we need it to be longer to encourage people to stay a little longer and spend a little more.

“Going back to five minutes could have a crippling effect on our five stores in the borough, which might mean reducing staff hours or even letting staff go.'”

You can have your say on plans up to Monday (April 4).

They can be sent by e-mail to parking.services@walthamforest.gov.uk quoting reference T7/16.

The online petition can be found at https://goo.gl/T026sR and the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8F6M8JZ

Waltham Forest council has been contacted for comment.