North Northants Council consults on introducing car park charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 12:30 · Archive

North Northants Council is consulting on introducing charges at 49 car parks in Wellingborough and Rushden.

North Northants Council has launched a public consultation on plans to introduce charges at 49 car parks across Wellingborough and Rushden. The car parks affected include Jackson's Lane and the multi-storey car park in Wellingborough, and Duck Street, John Street, Rectory Road, Portland Street and North Street in Rushden, which are all currently free to use.

The Reform UK-led council said the plans would create a consistent approach and ensure its car parks cover their own costs. Chris McGiffen, the Reform councillor with responsibility for highways, said the draft strategy set out how parking could work at the sites over the next 10 years and that no final decisions have been made yet.

Under the proposals, parking prices could be set according to demand and location. The council also wants to review permits, install more electric vehicle charging points, increase contactless payments and mobile phone app usage, and potentially reinvest income in parking and transport facilities.

Gen Kitchen, the Labour MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, opposes the possible charges and launched a petition against them. She is organising a public meeting to discuss concerns among local people.

How it is being reported

• Consultation launched for car parking chargesA local council is considering parking charges in parts of Wellingborough and Rushden.BBC Northamptonshire · 12 Oct, 12:14
• Have your say on council’s car parking strategy which could introduce new charges to free car parksNorth Northants Council (NNC) has asked for people’s views on the future of car parking, launching a public consultation to gather feedback on the controversial proposals.Northants Telegraph · 12 Oct, 11:46

In this story: North Northants Council · Wellingborough · Rushden · Chris McGiffen · Gen Kitchen · Reform UK

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