19 Sep 2024
Harpenden town councillors are divided over their support of district council’s controversial proposals to impose on-street parking – but the bulk of them are against the scheme.
Although the make-up of HTC is predominantly Liberal Democrat – the same as SADC – this does not mean all of them are in favour of the district administration’s plans.
Of the 16 councillors, 14 are Lib Dems and two are Conservatives, but the division over the issue goes far beyond party lines.
The St Albans Times asked all 16 councillors a series of questions to gauge their views on the issue.
We wanted to know if they supported SADC’s proposals to charge for on-street car parking in Harpenden, what feedback on the proposals they had received from local residents and retailers, and whether they thought the SADC administration understands the ways in which Harpenden differs from St Albans?
For those town councillors who are also on SADC we asked where their allegiance lies, if they thought the Liberal Democrat administration risked losing control of Harpenden over this issue, and would they consider resigning from the party to become an independent councillor in response?
Although not all councillors answered every question, a picture soon emerged of conflicting views within the Lib Dems.
Town and district councillor Fiona Gaskell said: “Harpenden residents and retailers have made clear their very strong opposition to the proposals. I understand the need for SADC to balance its budget, and the severe financial pressures it is under.
“However the proposed scheme does not recognise the many ways in which Harpenden is different from St Albans. I would like to see a compromise that offers residents the chance to park free in the town centre for more than 20 minutes. They need longer to pick up children from school or nursery, to collect prescriptions from the chemist and to visit the shops in the high street.”
Cllr Eileen Washington replied: “As you are aware, HTC unanimously passed a resolution on the 22nd July which acknowledged that there were ‘significant concerns’ about the proposals and their possible impact on the town. The council also noted the financial pressures that SADC might have.
“I was disappointed that our request to actively engage with SADC to find a compromise or to explore alternative options was refused. I have contributed to the consultation process repeating the points I made at the public meeting that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to on-street parking charges, is in my opinion, not appropriate for Harpenden.
“I await the outcome of the consultation when we will be able to comment further.”
The St Albans Times also received a joint statement from a host of town councillors including Jamie Burrows, Patrick Brosnan, Nicholas Chichester-Miles, Calvin Chong, Beth Fisher, Alistair Ray, Jane Ray, Richard Scott and Kirsti Wenn, who share the same position on the future of on-street parking in Harpenden.
“We were elected in May 2023 as town councillors to serve as local champions for Harpenden’s residents and businesses. Each of us lives in Harpenden. This is our home. We do not support SADC’s proposals to charge for on-street parking in Harpenden.
“Whilst we sympathise with SADC’s financial challenges, which we agree are partly caused by central government underfunding, we disagree most strongly that the imposition of on-street parking charges in Harpenden is an appropriate response.
“Each of us have committed personally to the Harpenden Town Council Business Plan for 2024 to 2028, which includes a specific commitment to: “Promote the economic and commercial vitality of small businesses, including the High Street, Southdown and other retail hubs.”
Several of us also campaigned personally to elect Victoria Collins to Parliament in the 2024 General Election on a manifesto which included a commitment that: “Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to elect a strong local champion who will fight for a fair deal for you and your community”; and: “We will support entrepreneurs, back small businesses … to help our high streets.”
“We intend to stand by these commitments. They are not negotiable.
“Whilst Harpenden is seen by some as a wealthy place, this is not true of everyone who lives in, works in or visits our town and our High Street. Harpenden’s retailers have rightly identified that increased costs, hassle and stress would degrade Harpenden’s attractiveness compared with the many competing local destinations, not to mention the ever-encroaching threat of online shopping.
“Harpenden is a community with a way of going about its day-to-day business that is very distinct from our neighbours in the much larger city of St Albans. We are proud of these differences, and we will continue to stand up for these differences that make Harpenden special.
“We are very aware that over 7,000 residents have signed a petition raised by our independent retailers opposing SADC’s proposed parking charges. A parallel ePetition on the SADC website, also raised by our independent retailers, has been endorsed with over 1,700 signatures. We note that the Harpenden Society has also issued a statement strongly opposing SADC’s proposed parking charges. This is clear evidence of the very strong community opposition in Harpenden to SADC’s proposed parking charges.
“This is not to say the parking situation in Harpenden is perfect. Far from it. Our discussions with local businesses and residents have highlighted multiple opportunities to improve signage, layout, capacity, permits and enforcement. Specifically, we insist that the one-hour free period for the parking bays in and around the High Street be preserved.
“We will continue to work constructively with our colleagues in Harpenden Town Council, our neighbours in SADC and other relevant parties to bring about the best possible outcome for our community. We stand by our 22nd July invitation to SADC to jointly develop and agree a better approach for parking in Harpenden.”
But several other town councillors remain fiercely loyal to the SADC administration.
Cllr Gill Hayes said: “In an ideal world , no councillor would want to increase charges for services to residents. We are not in an ideal world. Chronic underfunding by central Government of all councils over many years, plus high inflation has left many councils, including St Albans, facing a deficit in their budgets. There is a statutory requirement on councils to return a balanced budget each year. Hence the actions that had to be taken.”
She said she had received mixed feedback on the proposals, including some residents expressing understanding of the issues.
Cllr Hayes said she thought the SADC administration understood the ways in which Harpenden differed from St Albans, and had no fear of the Lib Dems losing control in the town or intention to resign.
“All voters in Harpenden West are residents of both HTC and SADC,” she added. “There are no issues of allegiance.”
Cllr Philippa Liver provided an almost identical response. She said: “The previous Government failed repeatedly to fund local government sufficiently. District councils have statutory responsibilities that they cannot ignore.”
She also said she had received varied feedback, was confident the Lib Dems would not lose control of the town over the issue, and had no intention of resigning, adding: “As the voters of Harpenden East are residents of both the town council and district council there is no issue of allegiance.”
Meanwhile, local Tories are seizing the opportunity presented by the proposals to push their candidate in the forthcoming district by-election for the Harpenden North and Rural seat.
Cllr Matt Cowley, who represents Harpenden South on SADC, said: “Our local Conservative team have been warning for some time of the dangers of Lib Dem dominance of the district council. The parking charges are just the latest example of mismanagement from an Administration which knows it has total control over decisions at the council.
“It is more important than ever that we elect Conservative councillors to hold them to account – and residents have an opportunity to do just that and send a message to the Lib Dems that they need to think again on parking charges by voting for Conservative candidate Sue Griffiths at the Harpenden North and Rural by-election on Thursday 17th October.”
