Have your say on East Herts Council’s car park policies

East Herts Council (EHC) is asking residents to help it overhaul its car parking policies.

Alongside online engagement, it is hosting in-person consultations in the district’s five towns.

But while those for Hertford and Ware are planned in central locations in the evening – the town council chamber on September 24 and Priory Hall on September 27 respectively, both 6pm to 8pm – the session in Bishop’s Stortford is being held on the edge of town during the day: at St Michael’s Mead Community Centre on Monday September 9, 1pm-3pm.

The sessions for Sawbridgeworth and Buntingford are also being held at 1pm-3pm: in the town council chamber at Sayesbury Manor on Wednesday September 11 and the Seth Ward Community Centre on September 24.

The Indie has asked EHC why an out-of-town venue has been selected for Stortford.

After hearing residents’ views, a new parking strategy will be outlined in late 2024 ready to be implemented in 2025.

Cllr Tim Hoskin, EHC’s executive member for sustainability, said: “Parking, car parks and parking spaces are certainly hot topics in our district. We are here to listen, and we look forward to getting residents further involved in the drafting and implementation of a new parking strategy that better serves our local communities.

“We are keen to hear how parking locally affects your personal life, your work life and the lives of your friends and family.

“By offering your feedback, you will be helping us improve our parking infrastructure to the benefit of all residents, whilst also contributing to a safer and more sustainable future for East Herts.”

The council runs eight car parks in Bishop’s Stortford, seven in Hertford and Ware and one in Sawbridgeworth, Buntingford and Stanstead Abbotts.

It says it wants to improve parking to “deliver fairer services and create a healthier, greener environment”.

It wants its new strategy to:

• Make a positive contribution to climate change
• Ensure improvements to air quality and to health and wellbeing
• Make it safer for walking and cycling
• Optimise use of parking spaces and car parks
• Support “financial resilience”.

Some of the changes being considered include:

• Different permit charges based on vehicle emissions, including a lower charge for electric vehicles or EV discounts in car parks
• Offering incentives for car-sharing and car-pooling
• A review of existing parking zones, including location and hours of operation
• Making parking charges across East Herts more consistent.

In April, the council’s Green Party and Liberal Democrat administration increased charges at some Stortford car parks by up to 54% – alongside a reduction of up to 19.2% at the unpopular Northgate End multi-storey to encourage more use of its 573 spaces.