Bushey and Radlett parking plans spark 1,500-strong petition

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition urging the borough council to scrap plans to bring in a standardised parking fees across the areas, which was presented to the authority earlier in April.

Bushey Heath conservative councillor Paul Morris, who launched the petition with Cllr Seamus Quilty, said: “The difficulty here is you are penalising those that can least afford it.

Councillors Seamus Quilty, Paul Morris, and Natalie Susman, and Watford MP Dean Russell. (Image: Will Durrant)

“If you wanted to pick up a prescription which previously you weren’t paying for before you even get into the pharmacy, you are paying £1.10.”

Cllr Morris warned the change would undermine local shops and said the council could “shoot itself in the foot” if businesses started to close with a “loss of business rates”.

Cllr Paul Morris said the changes would penalise those that can least afford it. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council)

Watford MP Dean Russell said: “I’ve been spending a lot of time speaking to residents and they’re really concerned that the parking charge will have a massive effect on two things.”

The Conservative MP will contest Watford at the next general election when the constituency’s boundaries expand to include Bushey North.

He said it would be an additional cost on those who want to “pop in and get a loaf of bread”, which he added would also affect local shopkeepers.

MP Dean Russell warned it may stop those who want to “pop in and get a loaf of bread. (Image: MP Dean Russell)

“You’ve got lots and lots of really wonderful shops and restaurants there, and actually, if people stop going, that’s going to make it harder for the shopkeepers to make a profit and it creates a risk of decline in that area,” the MP added.

Councils must spend the money they make from parking on keeping car parks in good order, or on other transport projects if they make a surplus, and cannot use it to prop up other services.

Motorists can currently park free for one hour at the Bushey Kemp Place, Bushey Country Club and Radlett Newberries car parks, before charges kick in for stays of two hours or longer.

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But the authority has plans for a £1.10 parking charge for the first hour.

Tariffs at other car parks in Hertsmere will rise from £1 to £1.10 for the first hour, including at Hertsmere Civic Offices in Borehamwood and Wyllyotts Place in Potters Bar, which was agreed at the authority’s budget meeting in February.

On-street parking bays in Bushey and Radlett will remain free for 30 minutes’ parking – except in Bushey Hall Road where parking is free for 20 minutes.

Parking is also free for one hour in Bushey Elstree Road, Radlett Aldenham Road and Radlett Oakway Parade.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Shenton, who is responsible for Hertsmere’s budget, said in February that Aldenham Parish Council had previously contributed to the costs of car park maintenance in Radlett.

The free parking offer in Radlett costs the taxpayer around £80,000 per year, according to a borough council report, and the parish council had contributed around £12,500.

Cllr Shenton said: “They had been making a contribution but it was tiny compared to the full economic cost.

“We’re obliged to charge the same amount for Radlett car park as Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Bushey Heath, and all the other ones across the borough.”

Hertsmere Borough Council leader Jeremy Newmark (Labour) added: “Budget setting is always a complex and challenging process as we strive to deliver our vital key services without any cuts and provide value for money by using our assets to the optimum.”