People power has forced Merton Council into a u-turn over a series of “draconian” parking restrictions in South Wimbledon.

Residents lodged 55 letters of complaints after more than 400 houses were leafletted by a group vehemently opposed to a move that clamped down on weekend parking in their area.

The original controlled parking zone (CPZ) was seen as a cash cow for the council, unnecessarily charging residents and visitors to park outside their homes at weekends even though it was designed to stop weekday commuters.

But council officers backed down after a series of impassioned speeches at a meeting last week to the delight of Julian Ollet, leader of a campaign against the move around Haydons Road station.

The Dryden Road resident said: “We’re all delighted. Hopefully this shows that people can get together and stop big brother from taking over their lives.”

Local councillor David Dean, who fought for the change, labelled it a “victory for residents” but added that ideally they should not have to pay for the new permits at all.

Now those living in the Poets’ Road area will require a ticket or permit for parking on their road for during reduced hours on Monday to Friday only.

The practice of charging for residents permits in controlled parking areas makes the local authority £459,000 a year with an additional £755,000 raked in through visitors charges.

But according to Merton Council’s cabinet member for parking and traffic management, Councillor William Brierly, all that cash is used to provide for residents.

He said: "The money goes back into running the parking services. Where possible, we are always looking at ways in which we can offer all our residents value for money, so, in this case, any surplus goes towards funding concessions such as freedom passes which offer older people in the borough free travel."

• What do you think? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.