North Herts Council leaders could raise some town centre parking charges, but freeze the price of residents’ permits.

Drivers in Letchworth, Hitchin and Royston face tariff increases of 5p in some car parks to round them up, because some older machines reject 5p coins.

North Herts Council’s 2021-26 spending plan dictates the authority should raise its parking charges by two per cent each year – adding at least an extra £39,500 to council coffers in 2023/24 according to the two per cent model.

If the district’s cabinet agrees a new set of charges, some tariffs could jump by a maximum 10p.

But in Knebworth, drivers who park for longer than two hours will pay a lower price than they do now, according to a report.

North Herts Council’s cabinet will debate the changes tomorrow (September 19).

“Mixed views were received regarding the proposed 10p increase to one-hour tariff bands, with concerns raised on the basis of economic hardship,” the report reads.

North Herts Council teams consulted business groups and area forums in Letchworth and Hitchin, Royston Town Council and Knebworth Parish Council.

The report adds North Herts Council teams are unsure how the new prices will affect the number of people who use the car parks, “particularly with the recovery from the pandemic and the impact of the increases in the overall cost of living on our car parks”.

It reads: “In Knebworth, given the smaller size of the high street and in seeking to encourage visitors to stay longer to support local businesses, the 5p tariff has been removed, thereby reducing the two, three and four-hour tariffs by 5p.”

How much will I pay to park the car?

All one-hour tariffs are rising by 10p in Letchworth, Hitchin and Royston, if the changes are agreed.

Post-3pm tariffs in Letchworth will also rise by 10p. All prices which end in a “5” will be rounded up or down at all car parks.

The most most expensive tariffs in each town will be:

  • Baldock – £1.70 (up from £1.65) for more than three hours at The Titchwell
  • Hitchin – £5.70 (frozen) for four hours at the Biggin Lane, Christchurch, Portmill and St Mary’s Square car parks
  • Letchworth – £5 (down from £5.05) for more than three hours at the Hilshott, Garden Square Long Stay, Letchworth Town Hall car parks
  • Royston – £7.70 (up from £7.65) for more than three hours at Princes Mews Car Park

There are no planned changes to existing free parking arrangements, such as the post-3pm free parking in Royston and the up-to-two-hour free sessions at Norton Common in Letchworth.

At Knebworth St Martin’s Road, the half-hour tariff will rise from 35p to 40p.

The one-hour tariff will freeze at 70p, but the two-hour tariff will fall from £1.50 to £1.55, three hours from £2.15 to £2.10 and £4.35 to £4.30.

North Herts Council will consider freezing the price of resident, business and visitor permits, and season tickets for 2023/24. But electric vehicle drivers could face new charges.

“There is an increasing demand [for electric vehicle charging point] infrastructure across the district,” the report reads.

“At present, visitors who use the electric vehicle bays without having to pay for a parking session within the council’s car parks, and it is being observed that visitors are charging their vehicle for a reduced period, with the cable still connected whilst taking advantage of the free parking session – as they can park for up to three hours within our car parks whilst charging their vehicle.

“This restricts the turnover of available electric vehicle bays for other visitors to our town centres.”

It continues: “It it therefore proposed that consideration is given to introducing charging for parking sessions in electric vehicle bays within council car parks during the chargeable hours.”