22 Nov 2024
The Harpenden Society has condemned the district council for its response to the consultation into on-street car parking charges.
The recent meeting of the public realm committee revealed that SADC was pressing ahead with its proposals, only making minor concessions to the overwhelming weight of public opinion opposing the plans.
Harpenden Society chair Jeff Phillips said: “Despite the participants in the public realm meeting claiming that the e-petition signatories represented a small proportion of those affected, this ignores the fact that nearly a quarter of the whole population of Harpenden signed the retailers’ petition.
“These proposals are unpopular with the residents of Harpenden and it is clear that the public realm committee has no respect for such voices.
“More so, the committee appears to want to inflame Harpenden residents further by agreeing to delay the implementation of charges in roads surrounding Clarence Park in St Albans until a ‘wider review’ has taken place.
“The Society, along with Harpenden Town Council (HTC), has argued strongly for such a review to take place in respect of the wider parking issues in Harpenden too. So far as the public realm committee is concerned, there seems to be one rule for St Albans residents and one rule for Harpenden residents.
“Turning to the ‘concessions’, it is ironic that the new proposal to remove five parking spaces on Leyton Green, to facilitate residents’ parking, is completely counter to the Statement of Reasons, which insist that the charges are designed to discourage car use in favour of cycling and walking.
“It is also contrary to the Local Plan which expects minimal provision of car parking spaces near the centre of town as such locations are considered ‘sustainable’.
“A paper prepared for the committee also refers to eight permits having been granted for five spaces so another five spaces allocated to residents is over-provision. The other changes to the proposals amount to little more than window dressing.
“Finally, we would point out that the SADC parking accounts include a very substantial hike in costs in the last two years particularly those relating to ‘services & supplies’ and ‘non-direct costs and depreciation’. In 2022/23 alone these amounted to £700,000.
“Whilst some of this additional cost could reflect employment agency expenses, we’re struggling to understand how ‘non-direct’ costs can legitimately be included in the parking accounts. These costs appear to be another form of window dressing to promote the proposition that on street parking is loss-making and hence ripe for additional charges – but only in Harpenden.
“We urge SADC to abandon these proposals and work with HTC, ourselves and other interested parties to develop a parking strategy that is fair and sustainable for residents and businesses alike.”
Harpenden Town Council is due to meet to discuss the proposals again on Monday, with suggestions of legal action against SADC if the district proceeds with its plans.
