No plans have been drawn up by Barnet Council to deal with what campaigners claim will be an increase of up to 1,000 cars in Mill Hill East over the next 18 months.

Developer Crest Nicholson is already at work on the former Mill Hill gasworks site in Bittacy Hill where, by summer 2004, there will be more than 250 homes, a Waitrose supermarket and a Holmes Place gym.

Outline planning permission has already been given for developers Annington Homes to build an additional 365 homes at Inglis barracks in nearby Bray Road.

Speaking at a meeting of the Mill Hill Preservation Society (MHPS) on Wednesday last week, Councillor Brian Coleman, cabinet member for the environment, said he was not aware of any new traffic plans for the area.

Speaking after the meeting, MHPS chairman John Turtle said he feared the area would soon be gridlocked.

"I think it is very worrying that the council has not got any idea as to what is going to happen when all of those extra cars come onto Bittacy Hill and other crowded roads in Mill Hill East," he said.

"There is going to be a minimum of 500 possibly 1,000 new cars in that area taking into account other developments like Millfields at the former Damascus House.

"Plus the pressure that is going to come with people using Mill Hill East Tube station to avoid the congestion charge."

Mr Turtle suggested the council provide a multi-storey car park in the Mill Hill East area and backed calls from Lib Dem councillor Sean Hooker for a relief road through Inglis barracks connecting Frith Lane and Bittacy Hill, as an alternative to reopening Partingdale Lane.

A council spokeswoman said it had been looking at the possibility of a relief road through the barracks but added there were no plans for a multi-storey car park in the area.

January 29, 2003 18:30