South Hatfield : Residents' Parking Permit Consultation

The current public consultation on the possibility of a Resident Permit Parking scheme for South Hatfield is generating a good response so far, with hundreds of comments forms being returned. However, Welwyn Hatfield Council is concerned that there appear to be some frequent misunderstandings or misconceptions regarding the consultation itself and the way schemes of this type operate.

In order to respond to some of the issues that have been raised, the Council has made the following points:

- This is being carried out in response to a petition signed by over 2,000 residents in South Hatfield asking for some form of priority for parking by residents.

- The cost of running the scheme falls to the Council, but there is no intention of making a profit from the charge for residents' permits - that's why we have not yet said how much they will cost, because we won't know what the cost is until we know what any scheme may be.

- This is a genuine consultation; we are looking for residents' comments.  It is not a foregone conclusion.

- The Council has worked closely with the University over several years on this issue; indeed the University is paying for the consultation and implementation of any residents' parking scheme that may be developed, so that cost (approximately £470,000) will not fall on the residents of Welwyn Hatfield. 

- Any residents' parking scheme will complement the UH's proposed new Park'n'Ride facility to be located at Angerland Common in Hatfield (replacing the current temporary Park'n'Ride at Stanborough in Welwyn Garden City).  The Park'n'Ride will be operational before any residents' parking scheme is implemented.

- Residents who have off street parking (a drive or garage) sufficient for their needs, will not need to purchase a resident permit.  You will not have to pay to park on your own drive.

- Up to 500 hours a year of visitors' permits may be purchased per household.  However if, for example, a residents' parking scheme was designed which restricted parking to say between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., Monday to Friday, these would be the only hours that visitors' permits would be required.  It is envisaged that the cost of visitors' permits will equate to 10p per hour.

- If a student resident wants a parking permit, they will have to pay the same amount as a non-student - there is no link to Council Tax.

- Some people think that a residents' parking scheme is not the solution. But having taken advice and looked at schemes across the country, we believe that this is the only option available to the Council, to improve the situation.

- The Council will be responsible for enforcing any residents' parking scheme.  The revenue raised will be used to offset the cost of running the scheme.  Again, we stress that the Council is only looking for this to break even.

- A permit can have up to two registration numbers on it, although only one car will be able to be parked at any one time.

- The presence of parking controls in residential areas will increase the Council’s ability to take enforcement action against drivers who park on verges or footpaths within the scheme.

Mandy Perkins, Executive Member for Planning and Environmental Health said: "It is important that residents complete and return the short questionnaire - we really want to know your views.  If you haven't received a copy of the consultation, please either call the Council on 01707 357000. "

Click here to link to the press release.