The aim is to provide additional capacity and promote the better use of space in East Herts Council managed car parks. The proposals have also been put forward to create standard operational hours and a consistent way of charging across the ‘rural’ car parks, ensuring that users contribute financially to the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities that are currently provided free of charge at weekends.
The proposed changes are:
Hertford
• Introduce a 3-hour maximum stay at Gascoyne Way Level A to encourage the turnover of spaces for shoppers and visitors.
• Amend Old London Road from a long-stay car park to a mixed short and long-stay facility.
Buntingford
• Introduce weekend charges at Bowling Green Lane, matching Stanstead Abbotts Rural car park’s hours (7:30am – 6:30pm). On weekdays and Saturday, there would be a 30-minute free period and charges would start at 75p for an hour. On Sunday, the £2.10 all day charge would apply.
Sawbridgeworth
• Introduce weekend charges at Bell Street, in line with current chargeable times on weekdays. On weekdays and Saturday, there would be a 30-minute free period and charges would start at 75p for an hour. On Sunday, the £2.10 all day charge would apply.
Bishop’s Stortford
• Introduce a 2.5-hour parking charge to Grange Paddocks A to encourage the turnover of space.
• Extend operational hours at Grange Paddocks B and C until 8pm to better manage demand during peak leisure times.
• Convert some of the underused disabled bays at Northgate End (ground floor) into parent & child bays.
Ware
• Merge Kibes Lane North and South into a single Kibes Lane car park. This would remove the long stay option currently available in Kibes Lane South, introducing a maximum stay of five hours Monday to Saturday, and keep an all day charge on Sundays and public holidays.
• Rename the “Library” car park to “Burgage Lane” and introduce a 3-hour maximum stay.
Across all car parks
• Introduce a 3-hour limit on free parking for Blue Badge holders to help encourage the turnover of spaces.
Separate from these proposed changes, the plans will also raise charges in all car parks from April 2026, in line with the Consumer Price Index, as already agreed by the council.
Councillor Tim Hoskin, Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability at East Herts Council, said: “We know that introducing weekend charges in Sawbridgeworth and Buntingford won’t be welcomed by everyone. Unfortunately, the council has very few ways to raise the money needed to keep services running, and at the moment we’re covering the cost of parking in these areas at the weekends. Bringing operational hours in line with our other rural car park in Stanstead Abbotts will help us manage this more fairly, which is a key principle of our agreed parking strategy.
“We’re especially keen to hear from our disabled community about the blue badge proposals. Nothing has been decided yet, and their views are really important in shaping the final decision. The idea is to encourage spaces to be turned over more regularly, in line with the free parking already available on-street – but we want to fully understand the impact this may have before moving forwards.”
Posters are being displayed in car parks highlighting the proposed changes. Everyone is encouraged to share their views by taking part in the online consultation, available at: https://yourvoice.eastherts.gov.uk/parking-changes
Written objections can be sent to: Parking Services, East Herts District Council, Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EQ.
The consultation is now open and will run until 6 November 2025.
