Parking Charges Slammed

Hertford Town Council have slammed proposals to increase parking charges in the town.

East Herts Council plan to increase charges by 10 pence, whilst neighbouring towns will see no increase.

Councillors also reaffirmed their strong opposition to the introduction of on-street parking charges, which has been put forward by the district council for possible introduction in 2013.

Cllr Jane Sartin, Chairman of the Development and Leisure Committee, said: “At a time when Hertford town centre’s shops, restaurants and other businesses are doing all they can to ride the economic storm that looks set to continue through 2010, to increase parking charges is a real kick in the teeth.  Hertford Town Council has been focussed on supporting the town centre through the recession, and this decision by the District Council undermines our work.  I am unclear why Hertford has been singled out for the increases, particularly when our parking charges were already higher than those in some other East Herts towns.”.

Town Councillors also voiced their opposition to the future introduction of on-street parking charges. Concerns were expressed on the impact the loss of free 30 minute parking would have on people doing quick shopping trips, or visiting a bank or the Post Office, and also on the detrimental visual impact the ticketing machines would have on the historic town centre.

East Herts District Council intends to increase parking charges from 1st April in Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, whilst freezing charges at their car parks in Ware, Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth and Stanstead Abbotts.