03 Feb 2025
Councillors have overwhelmingly voted to introduce charges at the free Haseldine Road car park in London Colney.
This week’s meeting of the public realm committee considered implementing the charges, subject to consultation, with a projected annual income of £66,000.
The vote was passed by 11-0 with one abstention.
London Colney councillor Mike Hobday, who has campaigned against the charges for the past year, challenged the proposals at the meeting: “I asked the committee not to presume this income from London Colney car parking charges on the basis that this would risk the prosperity or even survival of a series of independent shops and restaurants; that the inevitable consequence of car parking charges would be the displacement of parkland cars from the car park into neighbouring residential roads – 30 cars at a typical time, but 90 during prayers at the two local mosques.
“I said that charges would result in chaos and that the estimate full-year income of £66,000 was wholly unrealistic.
Officers tell me that this figure is based on a full-year income of £910 per parking space. I asked officers for comparable figures in other chargeable car parks.
“In Townsend Avenue, just outside the city centre, and surrounded by double yellow lines and residents parking zones, we take in only £755 per parking space. In Amenbury Lane, a similar distance from Harpenden town centre, we take in £576 per parking space. The chances of us taking in more at Haseldine Road in London Colney are nil.”
He said after the meeting: “It is shocking and appalling that Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors, including the Liberal Democrat councillor for London Colney, voted for a budget that includes income from car parking charges at Haseldine Road in London Colney.
“This is a really damaging proposal and takes no consideration of the strong views of London Colney businesses and residents.
“It ignores the petition signed by hundreds of village residents that was presented to the council last autumn.
“It is a bad decision.”
