PARKING on matchdays is set to become easier after Islington Council agreed to reduce the scope of the pink permit scheme around the Emirates stadium.

Currently, people without a pink slip cannot park on many streets near the Arsenal ground for up to an hour before and after Gunners games.

Now, after an East Area Committee meeting last week, phase one restrictions, which start two hours before the match, will be lifted in Whistler Street, Arvon Road, and parts of Drayton Park. Phase one and two restrictions, which start one hour before the match, will be lifted in Witherington Road, Horsell Road and Ronalds Road.

Andrew Hyatt, 47, who runs an interior design business from his home in Hartham Road, Holloway, said there should be more matchday restrictions instead of less: “Due to the sheer volume of people that go to these matches you need to make it painful for people to get to the ground to have any effect. Anything that leads to a walk longer than 20 to 25 minutes would make people think about getting public transport.

“All the roads around us have parking restrictions, but our road doesn’t, so on matchdays I can’t park anywhere. My partner lost his leg to cancer when he was 18 and can’t walk more than a hundred yards. When there is a match on we have to wait until everyone has gone, which can take hours.”

Councillor Theresa Debono, a member of the East Area Committee, said: “It was felt that the pink slips were no longer necessary.

“I had some emails from residents who were concerned about reducing the scheme, but we have tried it for the last six months with no adverse comments.

“I think the traffic in the area will now flow much quicker.”