16 Feb 2026
A year after St Albans district council imposed controversial on-street parking charges across Harpenden town centre, councillors have finally agreed to introduce major changes to help shoppers and retailers alike.
Local Liberal Democrats are proposing to create approximately 40 one-hour free on-street parking within minutes of Harpenden High Street, and have pledged to freeze existing parking prices for the next financial year.
The one-hour free bays are being mooted for Arden Grove, Southdown Road, Thompsons Close and Victoria Road, offering more than 1,000 hours a week of extra free parking for Harpenden.
The proposed change comes after a year of monitoring and data-gathering by the district council, followed by a review of that data, as well as listening to the views of residents and businesses, including respondents to a recent survey by Harpenden Town Council. After a formal advertising period, proposals would be implemented in the early summer.
Cllr Helen Campbell, chair of SADC’s public realm committee and lead on parking, said: “Since parking charges were introduced a year ago, we’ve been closely monitoring data – as well as listening to local feedback. Together with Victoria Collins MP and council leader Paul de Kort, I’m delighted to announce new changes that will allow for one-hour free on-street parking within minutes of Harpenden High Street.
“We’ve been able to find a way to deliver more free parking for Harpenden whilst keeping the council afloat – and delivering things like increased parking enforcement, which residents have repeatedly asked for.
“Our review looked at feedback from residents and businesses about the impact of the previous changes, hard data about usage, as well as the revenue raised from the measures. The Harpenden Town Council survey added extra context about how people get to the high street too.
“Taking all of this together, we are really pleased to announce these changes which we believe will better balance the needs of residents and businesses with the need to balance the books when it comes to council finances.
“The financial pressures that rest on councils’ shoulders right now are crippling. But through sensible financial choices, the Liberal Democrats have been able to protect the services and facilities that residents want and deserve – at a time when many other councils have been forced to make huge cuts and close amenities like leisure centres.”
Harpenden MP Victoria Collins said: “I’m grateful to the many residents and businesses that have shared their views with me over the past year, including Harpenden Town Council’s research which provided extra helpful context. I have regularly ensured this feedback was heard and taken into account. The Lib Dem team has fought hard to find a way to deliver extra free parking where it’s needed most, in a way that keeps our council finances strong too.
“In Parliament, I’ll be keeping up the fight for more investment in our local authorities – so that councils can focus on delivering services for local people – as well as support for our high streets and independent businesses.
“These plans show yet again that the only team fighting to make your voice heard and deliver practical solutions for our area is the Liberal Democrats.”
Plans to introduce parking charges were initially revealed by the St Albans Times after we picked through the minutiae of council budget proposals and discovered a few buried lines about introducing fees in bays which had previously been completely free for one or two hours.
The public realm committee’s budget recommendations included the measure: “Full year effect of changes to On Street Parking fees proposed to be implemented part way through 2024/25. Total full year income: £60k St Albans (70 bays) and £208k Harpenden (243 Bays).”
The fees have been opposed by local businesses and residents, the Harpenden Society, Harpenden Town Council and Conservative opposition councillors, with an ongoing campaign calling for them to be reversed or amended.
The Lib Dem administration at SADC said charging to park in Harpenden was necessary to off-set the council’s on-street car parking services budget, which had been running at a deficit, and towards greater levels of parking enforcement.
Last year Harpenden Town Council commissioned independent public sector research organisation Public Perspectives to gather the opinions of residents and businesses on accessing and visiting the town centre, including the consequences of changes to the limited waiting parking bays.
The research revealed there are less visits to the town centre and less time and money spent compared to a year ago, with parking charges the most commonly cited reasons for changes in use or experience of the town centre.
