On-street parking charges proposed

Motorists could be hit with on-street parking charges in Hertford town centre if proposals by East Herts District Council are approved.

The proposals are contained in a Traffic Regulation Order that will be put out for public consultation next month (February).

The charges of 50p for 30 minutes would be implemented in St.Andrew Street, Queens Road, Parliament Square and parts of Fore Street, Railway Street and Mill Bridge. Payment would be by smartphone app.

Hertford Town Council are set to discuss the plans ahead of the consultation at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Leisure & Development on Monday 30th January.

East Herts District Council claims that the measures will encourage more sustainable travel behaviours and support its application for "Sustainable Town" status, which requires all town centre parking to be chargeable. However, he government's Sustainable Travel Towns Progamme is currently closed to new bids.

East Herts Council also claim, without providing any evidence, that the charges will "encourage a turnover of parking spaces that in turn support local businesses".

In a further claim, the council says that on-street charging "will reduce congestion, improve traffic flows and improve air quality ….as people travel in a more sustainable way". Again, no evidence is provided to back up this assertion.  

There is currently no indication of when changing might start.

The council (EHDC) seeks to encourage more sustainable travel behaviours in line with its “Sustainability at the heart of everything” philosophy. The council also intends to apply for "Sustainable Town" status, where there is a requirement that all town centre parking is chargeable.

The introduction of charges will improve the management of on street parking, encouraging a turnover of spaces to provide an appropriate level of parking for the town centre - supporting local businesses, whilst reducing Civil Enforcement Officer patrolling time, in the context of CEOs’ existing operational procedure involving time intensive formal logging of vehicles on two separate occasions.

The effective regulation of on street parking will reduce congestion, improve traffic flows and improve air quality due to fewer car journeys as people travel in a more sustainable manner".

:: Statement of Reason, East Herts District Council

In July 2004, the District Council announced that parking meters were to be installed with a charge of 20p per half hour. The meters would be installed in areas where on-street parking had previously been free, such as Fore Street, Bull Plain, South Street, St.Andrews Street, The Wash, Parliament Square, Bell Lane, Church Street and South Street. However, these plans were deferred following representations from local businesses and the Town Council.

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