The general election has delayed plans to ask the public’s views on a £660,000 parking charge rework.

Dacorum Borough Council is looking at ways to make changes to its parking rules to help balance the books, which would leave fewer free spaces in Kings Langley.

Although an initial idea to end free one-hour parking in the High Street altogether was amended following backlash, the final plan residents had expected to be consulted on from today (June 3) would still make the centre of the road paid-only while retaining some free spots.

With an election now set for July 4, a Dacorum Borough Council spokesperson said: “As the parliamentary election has been called, the pre-election period (known as PERP) has commenced.

“Under these guidelines, we are unable to start the statutory consultation until after the election.

“The date the consultation will commence will be announced soon.”

Councillors have suggested that it could begin very soon after the vote, from July 8.

Watford Observer: Map attached to the Dacorum Borough Council agenda item for February 7.Map attached to the Dacorum Borough Council agenda item for February 7. (Image: Dacorum Borough Council)The latest proposal suggests a total of 28 bays where a 30-minute park will cost 80p and an hour will cost £1.50, with 25 bays with 30 minutes free parking either side.

A pay by phone app would be used and there would be no return within two hours.

Four of the free bays are between Vicarage Lane and Common Lane while 21 are between the Rose and Crown and Langley Hill.

Parking charges would apply from 8am to 6pm every day.

Kings Langley’s off-street parking, in The Nap and Langley Hill, is set to remain free but be limited to four hours between 8am and 6pm.

The proposals for Kings Langley are part of wider-ranging changes for parking across Dacorum, with arrangements in Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, and Apsley also seeing recent updates.

Overall, the initial plan was predicted to raise an extra £660,000 a year for the borough council, while the updated plan to maintain some free spots is expected to deliver £460,000.

The changes followed concerns from businesses, residents and councillors over the impact on the high street if fewer people park outside shops.