10 May 2024
Plans by the Lib Dem administration to scrap free parking across the district have united opponents to the scheme from the Conservatives and Labour.
SADC wants to examine the provision of on-street car parking across the district to decide whether it is sustainable to continue to allow free parking in bays given the high level of demand and resulting pressure on places.
Free car parks in Redbourn, Park Street and London Colney, and one and two hour bays across Harpenden town centre will all incur charges should the proposals go ahead.
According to the council, scrapping free parking bays and installing new signage would cost £40,000, but could bring in approximately £185K for 2024/25 and almost £268K in subsequent years. Charging for free car parks would bring in £14,300 for the next financial year, and £66K per annum going forwards.
But consultation on the proposals – which was due to begin in the next week – has been put back until next month at the earliest to allow council officers to finalise proposals and options.
The scheme has met with opposition from rival political parties at both ends of the spectrum.
Newly elected London Colney councillor Mike Hobday (Labour) said: “Car parking charges at the Co-op and leisure centre car parks in London Colney would be a massive hot potato.
“Parking charges would drive cars onto residential streets and cause chaos for local residents. The delay is great news, but the real target must be to stop inappropriate charges.”
And Nigel Gardner, Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Harpenden and Berkhamsted was also outspoken about the changes.
“The district council’s decision to delay the consultation on its controversial parking charge hikes leaves both our local residents and local businesses in limbo. It’s time for the council to start listening to local people.
“Many of you have written to me describing the changes as ‘crazy’. Delaying the consultation in which people can make their opposition known means more anxiety for our residents and more uncertainty for our hard-working, hard-pressed high street traders.
“Residents are not just upset that, free on-street parking bays will become chargeable, making short High Street shopping stops more difficult. They are also concerned that the changes will push more cars onto nearby residential streets.
‘These plans are wrong for our town and will damage our High Street. We need to support and nurture our town centre and make it as easy as possible for people to visit. We need the council to address this urgently – delays are not good enough.
“In Redbourn residents face not only having to pay for the formerly free time-limited bays but also for their currently free High Street car park.”
