25 Jul 2024
Retaining one hour free parking bays in Harpenden should be one of the options considered by SADC, the town council has urged.
This week’s extraordinary general meeting of HTC was dominated by discussion of the proposed parking changes, which will see the end of the existing one and two hour free on-street parking.
It was attended by more than 140 residents, retailers and councillors, with speakers raising concerns over the process followed by SADC to assume Harpenden parking revenues in its budget before conducting the public consultation.
There were also questions about the integrity of the process given statements made by council leader Cllr Paul de Kort in the St Albans Times in May.
When told at the time how the issue of free parking had become a hot potato since the budget was set, he was asked whether it was a challenge for him as a Harpenden councillor to then be saying ‘we need to be doing some drastic things in order to balance the budget’ with the end of free parking being one of them.
He responded: “We don’t know, and that’s why there’s a consultation, exactly how it’s going to look, but it isn’t a consultation on whether we’re going to do it or not because it’s in a budget and the only way the senior officers signed off on our budget was by us saying we’re going to raise some money from this activity.”
The EGM also looked at the impact on older residents, the competition to Harpenden High Street from alternative shopping and hospitality destinations where parking was free, and the lack of affordable staff parking, including volunteers working in charity shops.
The proposed 20 minute free period was considered inadequate, particularly for parents with young children and senior residents worried about parking apps and overpayment.
SADC was criticised for its ineffective enforcement of existing parking measures, with a lack of traffic warden presence, broken ticket machines and widespread non-compliance with existing regulations.
Following the discussion, HTC passed a special motion which was discussed and voted through on a line-by-line basis.
It states:
Harpenden Town Council is committed to doing what it can to help encourage and sustain a vibrant High Street.
HTC recognises the significant concerns that are being raised regarding the SADC parking proposals and also understands the financial pressures that SADC may have.
We request that SADC actively engage with HTC in a joint approach to explore some alternative proposals that achieve a better-balanced outcome for all and in particular one that sees the retention of a substantial number of free bays.
This joint approach would be delivered in the following way:
a) Formal joint working between the councils in the form of a task and finish group (TFG) with officer representatives from both councils;
b) TFG meets for the duration of the public consultation so as to not cause time delays;
c) TFG operates under a clearly-defined terms of reference, with inputs from HTC and SADC councillors that are from Harpenden.
d) TFG engages proactively with relevant local stakeholders, in particular independent High Street retailers:
e) TFG explores alternatives including (but not limited to) a mix of retained 1hr free bays and introduction of paid parking, if necessary, in appropriate locations;
f) TFG reports to a joint panel of relevant SADC and HTC councillors for joint agreement on the most appropriate parking strategy for Harpenden:
g) Carry out a parking review by March 2025 and SADC hold off the implementation of any changes until then.
Following the meeting, town councillor Richard Scott, chair of the HTC corporate policy and finance committee with responsibility for the economic prosperity of the High Street, thanked the local residents and independent retailers who made the time to attend and speak: “They submitted sincere and well-argued statements regarding the negative impacts that SADC’s parking charges will have on our High Street.
“The Liberal Democrats’ handling of parking is laying the foundations for a Conservative comeback in Harpenden. Over 5,500 local residents have now signed the online and paper petitions opposing this signature Lib Dem policy. Our party leadership has alienated the dozens of independent retailers who make our High Street special. We have taken people for granted. We need to earn back the right to call ourselves “local champions”.
“Liberal Democrats in charge of both SADC and HTC now need to pay attention and take these concerns seriously. I am pleased with the motion passed by Harpenden Town Council, inviting SADC to work in partnership with HTC to jointly develop and agree a parking strategy for Harpenden that will earn the consent of its residents and its independent retailers.
“This needs to mobilise immediately and make rapid progress. The SADC consultation is also critical and I encourage local residents and businesses to submit their responses.”
You can still object to the proposed parking charges by taking part in the public consultation and signing the ongoing petition: https://www.change.org/p/object-to-the-planned-introduction-of-on-street-parking-charges-in-harpenden
