Agenda item

That Executive:

(A) Approves the extension of operational hours at Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, to 7:30 am - 6:30 pm and the introduction of weekend charging, subject to the following mitigation:

• Retention of the proposed Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase over the existing structure currently applied in Stanstead Abbotts.

• Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.

• Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(B) Approves the introduction of weekend charging at Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, aligned with existing weekday tariff levels, subject to the following mitigations:

• Retention of existing Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase.

• Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.

• Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(C) Approves the introduction of a maximum stay of 3 hours for all customers at Gascoyne Way Level A, Hertford.

(D) Approves amendments at Old London Road, Hertford, to provide both short-stay and long-stay parking.

(E) Approves the introduction of a 2.5-hour parking charge at Grange Paddocks A, Bishop’s Stortford.

(F) Approves the extension of operational hours to 8:00 pm at Grange Paddocks B and C, Bishop’s Stortford.

(G) Approves the merger of Kibes Lane North and Kibes Lane South, Ware, into a single car park, operating as short-stay parking Monday to Saturday and long-stay parking on Sundays and public holidays.

(H) Approves the renaming of the Library Car Park, Ware, to Burgage Lane, and the reduction of the maximum stay to three hours.

(I) Approves the merger of Amwell End East and Amwell End West, Ware, into a single Amwell End Car Park.

(J) Approves the conversion of several under-utilised disabled bays to Parent and Child bays at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford.

(K) Approves corrections to administrative and operational arrangements at Link Road and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, including car club bays and operational hours.

(L) Approves the introduction of a maximum free parking period of 3 hours for Blue Badge holders across all Council-managed car parks in disabled and regular bays, and allow vehicles to remain in excess of the 3 free hours, during chargeable periods, with payment made.

Note that the Order also provides for tariff increases from April 2026, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as previously agreed by the Council. Following feedback from the consultation, it is proposed that car parks in Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth, and Stanstead Abbotts are not subject to inflationary increases in the existing applicable tariffs for 2026/27.

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability presented the report. The report sought approval for changes to East Herts’ off?street parking arrangements following a public consultation held between October and November 2025. Feedback led Officers to amend several proposals, which aimed to improve parking capacity, standardise operational hours and create a consistent charging approach across rural and urban car parks in line with the Council’s parking strategy.

The consultation received 636 responses, along with formal objections from local town councils and business representatives. In response to feedback, the proposals removed CPI increases for rural car parks, reduced the proposed all?day Sunday charge and allowed Blue Badge holders to extend their stay remotely beyond three hours. Members heard that the changes would improve consistency, support better management of demand, align with strategic objectives and help address financial pressures whilst maintaining local services.

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability proposed the recommendations as detailed in the report. The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods seconded the proposal.

Members welcomed the change to enable disabled Blue Badge holders to use parking apps to extend parking stays and queried whether this aligned to what other councils were doing in relation to Blue Badge charging in car parks. It was explained that Appendix A highlighted how practices varied across Hertfordshire. Members heard that the Council had been an early adopter of the National Parking Platform, which allowed drivers to use any parking app installed on their phone to pay for car parking across East Herts.

In response to a question from a non-executive Member in relation to the £2 all day parking fee on Sundays at the Bishop’s Stortford police?station car park, when it had been stated that fees were rising to £1.50, Members heard that the £1.50 figure related only to rural car parks, whereas the Bishop’s Stortford site was an urban car park. It was highlighted that Appendix B contained a full breakdown of charges.

Gratitude was expressed to the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability and the Officer team for their hard work, acknowledging the effort made to be fair whilst covering costs and raising awareness of limited parking space and the wider impact of travel.

The motion to support the recommendation, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That (A) Executive:

approve the extension of operational hours at Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, to 7:30 am - 6:30 pm and the introduction of weekend charging, subject to the following mitigation:

•      Retention of the proposed Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase over the existing structure currently applied in Stanstead Abbotts.

•      Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.
 

•      Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(B)   Approved the introduction of weekend charging at Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, aligned with existing weekday tariff levels, subject to the following mitigations:

•      Retention of existing Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase.

•      Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.

•      Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(C)   Approved the introduction of a maximum stay of 3 hours for all customers at Gascoyne Way Level A, Hertford.

(D)   Approved amendments at Old London Road, Hertford, to provide both short-stay and long-stay parking.

(E)   Approved the introduction of a 2.5-hour parking charge at Grange Paddocks A, Bishop’s Stortford.

(F)   Approved the extension of operational hours to 8:00 pm at Grange Paddocks B and C, Bishop’s Stortford.

(G)   Approved the merger of Kibes Lane North and Kibes Lane South, Ware, into a single car park, operating as short-stay parking Monday to Saturday and long-stay parking on Sundays and public holidays.

(H)   Approved the renaming of the Library Car Park, Ware, to Burgage Lane, and the reduction of the maximum stay to three hours.

(I)    Approved the merger of Amwell End East and Amwell End West, Ware, into a single Amwell End Car Park.

(J)    Approved the conversion of several under-utilised disabled bays to Parent and Child bays at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford.

(K)   Approved corrections to administrative and operational arrangements at Link Road and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, including car club bays and operational hours.

(L)   Approved the introduction of a maximum free parking period of 3 hours for Blue Badge holders across all Council-managed car parks in disabled and regular bays, and allow vehicles to remain in excess of the 3 free hours, during chargeable periods, with payment made.

Note that the Order also provides for tariff increases from April 2026, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as previously agreed by the Council. Following feedback from the consultation, it is proposed that car parks in Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth, and Stanstead Abbotts are not subject to inflationary increases in the existing applicable tariffs for 2026/27.