'Pray and display' permits planned for religious leaders

Permits which allow religious leaders visiting parishioners to 'pray and display' have been launched to avoid a backlash over parking fines.

The special permits will allow people carrying out religious duties such as visiting ill or dying worshippers and giving the last rites to park in any residential zones in Barnet, north west London.



The scheme, the local council says, is aimed at "helping vulnerable residents in time of spiritual need", and is open to all faiths including Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Rastafarianism, Sikhism, Unitarianism and Zoroastrianism.

Permits cost £40 each, or £70 for second and third permits, and can be issued to worshippers on faith business as well as religious leaders, on production of a letter of support from the applicant's place of worship, together with a brief description of the religious duties being carried out.