Lib Dem run St Albans District Council is planning to drastically increase parking charges across Harpenden town centre.
Under the Council’s proposals free time-limited parking bays on Harpenden High Street will be-come chargeable, making short shopping stops more difficult.
Residents of Redbourn face not only having to pay for their formerly free time-limited bays, but also the axing of their free High Street car park.
Some tariffs will increase by up to 60%. For example, the Sunday charge for the Amenbury Lane car park rises from £1.50 to £2.50.
“These charges will hit our High Street like a bombshell”, said former businessman, Nigel Gardner. “They are wrong for our town and will damage our High Street. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis. They need to be scrapped”.
“I’m calling on the Lib Dem Council to rethink this – and I’m happy to work with them to come up with better proposals”.
Teresa Heritage, District and County Councillor for Harpenden added, “These changes will have a negative effect on both residents and local businesses. I simply don’t understand why the Council is introducing them”.
Nigel Gardner added, “We need to support and nurture our town centre and make it as easy as possible for people to visit. These proposals do the opposite”.