Parking fees scrapped at Church Lane
By Jack Abell
A dramatic drop in the use of a popular car park in Chalfont St Peter after parking charges were introduced has led to the fees being scrapped.
The U-turn by Chiltern District Council (CDC) on its decision to make people pay at the Church Lane car park has been hailed as a victory for local residents and businesses.
It had been free to park for the first hour for a number of years until April 2007, when CDC decided to start charging 50p per hour.
This proved hugely unpopular with villagers and use of the car park has dropped dramatically since.
According to figures in a CDC cabinet report, 90,270 tickets were issued for the one-hour free parking period during 2006/07, but in the 12 months following the introduction of charges, just 35,112 tickets were sold for the same one-hour period, a 61 per cent drop in the number of tickets.
CDC has reconsidered the situation after Chalfont St Peter's parish council, Chamber of Commerce and Village Association worked together to produce the £17,556 annual fee to allow the one-hour free parking period to be reinstated.
Michael Day, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said: "We think this is a victory for common sense.
"The fact that the car park has been so underused for the past year or so is an indication that people do not want to pay for parking.
"This not only means that local shops suffer but it also means more cars are parked illegally.
"Now that there is going to be free parking again for an hour, the businesses in the town will feel the benefit, so it is very good news.
"We have been pushing for this for some time, along with the parish council, so we are very pleased with the result."
Isobel Darby, of Chalfont St Peter Parish Council, was instrumental in making the change, and worked with the Chamber of Commerce to find a way of funding the costs of the free hour.
She said: "This situation is something I felt very strongly about as a parish councillor.
"I was very committed to having the first hour free because I believe it is hard for the village to maintain vibrancy in the current economic climate. I am very pleased with the outcome.
"It is good that the parish council, Chamber of Commerce and Village Association all worked together, because it makes this a whole village thing and gives a real sense of achievement."
CDC has not given a specific date for when the free hour will be reinstated, but it is believed that it will be within the next two months.
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