08 Sep 2025
Proposals to charge motorists to use the Haseldine Road car park in London Colney are now open for public consultation.
In February, district councillors on the public realm committee voted overwhelming to implement the charges, which could reap a projected annual income of £66,000.
They ignored a petition opposing the measures which was signed by hundreds of village residents.
SADC has now launched a consultation reviewing the possible need for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the London Colney area to ensure the parking provision continues to meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
The introduction of a CPZ can include resident permit parking, additional yellow lines, setting a maximum time a vehicle can remain parked (e.g. in bays outside shops), and parking charges.
As part of this review, residents are being asked for their views on Haseldine Road car park and parking in general, including how long vehicles should be allowed to park there, and what improvements can be made.
Local Labour councillors Mike Hobday and Emma Turnbull say they are standing up for drivers and residents against what they describe the Liberal Democrat-led St Albans council’s unfair parking plans.
In a statement they said: “St Albans council has launched a consultation to justify introducing charges at the Haseldine Road car park – a vital free parking space for local residents, shoppers, visitors and businesses.
“But that’s not all. They’re also proposing a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) that could force residents near the village centre to pay up to hundreds of pounds a year just to park outside their own homes.”
“These parking taxes will hit local families hard and they’ll devastate High Street and Haseldine Road shops,” said local Labour councillor Emma Turnbull. “If drivers lose access to free parking, they’ll simply go elsewhere to shop.”
The Labour councillors have also called out what they say is a misleading survey by SADC, which fails to mention the planned charges or the real cost of the CPZ.
“It’s smoke and mirrors,” said Cllr Hobday. “They ask about ‘improvements’ to the car park but hide the fact they’ve already budgeted for charges. This isn’t consultation. It’s a cash grab.”
You can have your say on the proposals here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/TROS
