A campaigning councillor fighting to keep an hour free parking in his area will raise the issue for debate at a meeting this week.

Cllr James Bond collected 3,352 signatures for his petition against Harrow Borough Council plans to cut the hour of free parking at North Harrow’s Cambridge Road car park.

In July this year the people of North Harrow started the campaign against the new charges, which will cost 80p an hour.

There were objections from St John Fisher School to the changes at the car park, which is used by parents in the mornings and afternoons to drop off and pick up their children.

The Melrose Road school fears removing the concession will lead to heavy congestion on roads nearby.

With the high number of signatures the issue will now be debated by the full council at the Civic Centre on Thursday evening from 7.30pm.

After the ten-minute debate the council could choose to refer the petition to cabinet for further discussion.

Harrow Council has previously said the hour of free parking in North Harrow was offered in 2004 as a temporary measure after a nearby Safeway closed, and since there are now lower shop vacancy rates and a thriving high street, this concession will end.