A parking permit “cock-up” has led to over 100 resident permits being issued by mistake in Finchley.

Flats built on the High Road in North Finchley were granted planning permission on the condition that future residents would be prevented from obtaining parking permits, due to the current lack of parking in the area.

However an error has allowed over 100 residents to apply and be granted the permits to park on the High Road and neighbouring roads.

Woodhouse ward councillor Alan Schneiderman said: “This is a yet another cock-up by bungling Barnet Council that has taken far too long to sort out.

"The Council need to come clean and write to all affected residents straight away to apologise and let them know the full scale of the problem, how long they have known about it and when parking permits issued in error will be withdrawn.”

The development provides 114 spaces, which is around one per flat, with disabled parking bays and further bays available for larger houses.

However some residents of the new development have said they were unable to obtain a parking space when they bought their flat, meaning the permits were their only options.

Jenny O’Reilly of Atwell Court said: “I wasn’t able to get a parking space with my flat, so when I saw I could get a permit it was a bit of a lifesaver.

“If they take my permit away I don’t know what I’ll do.”

The council has said it is currently looking at how this issue can be resolved.

Council leader Richard Cornelius said: “A new process is being introduced to make it clear to residents which new developments cannot apply for permits.

“We apologise that the existing process allowed some people to secure permits they should not have been entitled to.”