Dacorum could see new parking charges as consultation begins

Motorists in the Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Kings Langley and Tring areas will be able to respond to an “informal consultation” before Dacorum Borough Council agrees new tariffs, the authority’s cabinet has agreed.

In July, the Liberal Democrat-led authority debated scrapping all free parking at council car parks in Dacorum, including at Hemel Hempstead’s Gadebridge Park.

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The Gadebridge Conservatives hit back and launched a Change.org petition to keep free parking, signed by more than 1,400 people.

New draft proposals include extending car park opening hours.

Car parking tariffs could rise by around 28 per cent, rounded to the nearest 10p, which the council has said will cover inflation since 2019 – the last time the authority reviewed its tariffs.

Dacorum Parking sign (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)

Dacorum Borough Council could open up its Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens top deck to the public on weekdays.

The town centre car park’s top deck is only open to the public on weekends, with reserved parking on weekdays.

Free one-hour parking in Tring and Boxmoor could be cut down to 45 minutes.

Limited-time waiting bays on-street could become chargeable parking spots.

Water Gardens North sign (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)

On-street parking prices would be set at £2 per hour, which would mean a four-hour stay on the roadside in Hemel Hempstead would double – from £4 to £8.

“We recognise as a council that as we head towards 2030 and beyond, there has to be consideration for climate change and the advent of electric vehicles,” Cllr Ron Tindall, Dacorum Borough Council leader, said.

“What effect these will have on our policies going forward, we can only predict.

“But we must do all we can to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Cllr Tindall, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Adeyfield West, claimed parking charges were under review before his party took office in May this year.

Dacorum parking sign (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)

“We are pleased to have revisited the proposals which we inherited from the old administration,” he said.

Dacorum Borough Council’s cabinet met on Tuesday, September 12, where members agreed to hold the consultation.

A report sets out there was a parking income deficit in the borough of £600,000 in 2022/23.

“Thus, there is an ongoing need to set appropriate tariffs that maximise income and reflect the cost of the assets and parking service, given the ongoing pressures to parking income,” the report notes.

It adds the cabinet is not due to agree any new parking charges until February or March next year.