Not fine! Council issues apology after parking charge bungle
The West unitary has incorrectly charged motorists for using its car parks before carrying out a crucial crucial legal step
By Sarah Ward and Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
West Northamptonshire Council has had to issue an apology today after incorrectly bringing in controversial new parking charges before it had carried out a crucial legal step.
The Reform UK run authority is going to have to refund hundreds of motorists after it introduced new charges at its car parks at the start of this month without consulting on the necessary Traffic Regulation Order.
Controversially the authority had decided to scrap free blue badge parking at its car parks at the budget meeting in February and raise charges in Northampton car parks for all motorists, with the car parks in Daventry and Towcester being spared.
But alongside the apology and the hours of additional work the authority has caused for its admin workers, there is now added confusion as the newly published TRO, which has a 21 day consultation, states there will be charges in Daventry and Towcester. Also charges are being proposed at Northampton’s country parks, which currently have free parking. A petition against it has already gathered more than 1,700 signatures.
Stuart Timmiss, executive director of place, economy and the environment, said: “We apologise unreservedly to anyone that has been affected by this error.
“We know this falls far short of the standards our residents expect from council officers, and how we should be delivering services and I would like to assure them that we are taking swift action to put this right.
“Blue Badge holders and other drivers who paid the incorrect charges at our car parks since 1 April this year will be reimbursed the difference, and Penalty Charge Notices relating to these errors will also be cancelled and refunded.”
According to WNC, the affected car parks are Albion Place, Campbell Square, Midsummer Meadow, The Ridings, St John’s Multi-Storey, Upper Mounts, and Wellington Street.
The removal of free parking on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays and free Saturday mornings at Brixworth Country Park were also introduced without the proper TRO in place.
Some residents who were fined during this period spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week, criticising the council for its communication surrounding the changes to Blue Badge parking and inadequate notice.
Council staff have been busy this past couple of days trying to sort out the mistake.
Across the council car parks, signage boards and payment machines have been taped up with black bags so they are no longer visible to car park users. A printed photo of the previous fees before April 1 has been stuck to the signs, alongside a confirmation that blue badge holders have free parking and a copy of the late Traffic Regulation Order.
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Jonathan Harris said his group became aware of issues last week and he met with an officer yesterday.
He said:
“I think it is a genuine gaffe, but it is a pretty big one. It doesn’t give you confidence or trust in the authority. If this is wrong what else could be going wrong.”
Since the departure of chief executive Anna Earnshaw in November, the council has been without a permanent boss, with finance director Martin Henry acting up as interim chief executive. A recruitment exercise did not find a suitable replacement for Earnshaw.
Cllr Harris also has concerns about the new TRO citing new charges for the market towns, which may not be introduced immediately, but could come in down the line. The proposal is to charge £5 each hour, after the three hour free parking that is currently in place.
He said:
“In February’s cabinet meeting, Reform UK, who run the Council, acknowledged the strength of public feeling on this issue. Residents and businesses were united in wanting to keep parking free in market towns to support our high streets. In response, the Council stated clearly that parking charges would not be introduced in these areas.
“The council insists it has no plans to introduce charges in market towns, yet these locations are included in the [new] consultation schedule. So which is it?”
Conservative South Northants MP Sarah Bool has also posted on social media about the consultation and the mooted new charges.
She said:
“This is madness. We were told one thing that there would be no parking chargers in Towcester and we are being faced with a completely different situation a few months later. I really hope this is just a misunderstanding and an error.”
She urged residents to respond to the consultation by the closing date of May 14.
A WNC spokesman, said:
“Following feedback on the draft budget proposals earlier this year, the Council decided not to introduce new parking charges in Daventry and Towcester. However, persistent issues with overstaying in short‑stay car parks were identified, reducing space availability for shoppers and other visitors.
“To address this, the Council is consulting on enforcing the existing free three‑hour limit in four larger short‑stay car parks - two in each town - using ANPR. To avoid penalising minor overstays, this approach replaces an immediate £30 penalty charge with a £5 per hour overstay charge, while leaving the free parking period unchanged.
“All comments on the draft order will be considered and amendments may be made, including the removal of overnight restrictions, as part of a pragmatic approach to supporting motorists, local businesses, and the vitality of both towns.”
The Northampton country park proposed charges will affect Hunsbury Hill Country Park, West Hunsbury Country Park (also known as Ladybridge Park) and the Bedford Road Picnic Area.
A Notice of Intention posted at the parks warned that WNC’s off-street parking places are being consolidated under the new Traffic Regulation Order. The Draft Order states that any parking in the above country parks would be subject to new hourly fees for visitors.
This starts at £2 for one hour and then charges £1 per hour after that, peaking at an £8 ‘all day’ ticket. Blue Badge holders would also be required to pay the applicable parking charges and display their badge when parking in disabled bays under the new rules.
Sarah Barker, who started the petition against the new charges last Friday wrote: “These parks are more than just green spaces; they are vital community hubs used by people from all over, not just those in the local vicinity. Now, the West Northants Council is proposing to impose parking charges, an action that threatens not only our access to these beloved parks, but the local economy as well.
“At a time when we are all feeling financial strain, imposing additional costs discourages families and individuals from enjoying outdoor activities. Being outdoors is crucial for our physical and mental well-being, providing an escape into nature, encouraging exercise, and promoting community interaction.
“It is essential that we stand up against these charges. We already contribute to the maintenance of our community through council taxes, in addition to the often-overlooked stealth tax for garden waste bins. These proposed charges feel like another burden—an unfair attempt by the council to profit at the expense of our wellbeing and community spirit.
“West Northants should be nurturing our community, not driving people away and making accessibility difficult. We need to protect our parks and do what is best for our community’s health and the local economy.”
In a video posted on social media addressing the proposed parking charges, Cllr Pinder Chauhan (Hunsbury, Conservative) added:
“I was very very surprised to hear from my residents that the council will be charging residents to use the country parks in our areas. We’ve never ever charged residents to use the park.
“We now have a new administration in charge who have decided not only to put these charges in but also not to inform the parish council or inform myself as ward councillor
“At a time when people are struggling to pay bills, we cannot be charging them to pay for the open spaces to use our park facilities.”
She also said she had written to the council leader and officers to raise questions, but emphasised that it was not “a done deal” and the decision must still be made by cabinet.
Parking charges are already in place at Brixworth and Daventry country parks. A season ticket for regular users of country parks in West Northants will cost £70 per year for a single park or £95 per year for all five parks.
The leader of the council Mark Arnull has been contacted for comment.
I suspect it's inexperience and arrogance that has caused this administration error, either by new officers or by cabinet members ordering officers to push it through. Either way it is not good enough and of concern if this is the way council is going to operate.
Also, as a wheelchair user, I have to pay extra in some car parks using phone/app as the pay point is inaccessible.