Haldens Car Park & Shops Parking Consultation

This consultation was initiated following feedback from residents and businesses about the lack of short-term parking near the shops in Hollybush South. Concerns were raised that unrestricted parking may reduce turnover and limit availability for customers.

As a result, this location was added to our 2024–26 Parking Services Works Programme to explore potential improvements and assess whether restrictions could help support local access and business use.

 

Feedback

Letters outlining the proposed ideas were sent to all businesses by the shops and adjacent properties. The feedback stage closed on 10 October 2025.

We received one response, which was in favour of the proposed restrictions. While engagement was low, it’s worth noting that consultations of this nature typically attract responses from those who oppose a proposal. The absence of negative feedback can reasonably be interpreted as a general level of support or acceptance from the businesses and wider community.

 

Proposals

Advertised 26 November 2025.

Any comments/objections to the proposed parking restrictions need to be submitted in writing by Thursday 25 December 2025 as per instructions on the public notice which can be found in the documents link on the next page. The extension to objections is in light of the notice being published in Welwyn Hatfield Times on Wednesday 3 December 2025.

Survey responses highlighted concerns around parking availability near the shops. Based on this feedback, the following suggestions are being considered:

  • Marking out parking bays in front of the shops
  • Time-limited parking in approximately half of the bays, particularly near the Nisa end, which is more frequently used for short visits
  • Suggested restriction: Monday to Saturday, 9am–5pm, maximum stay of 2 hours, with a 4-hour no return
  • No changes to the car park

The adjacent car park will remain unchanged. It will continue to offer:

  • Free parking with no time limits
  • Existing EV bays, loading bay, and disabled bays

 

Maps

Can also be seen in the public documents link: Haldens Shops Proposal Documents

 

Next steps

Once the objection stage has closed, any objections received will be read, and collated into a report that will be presented to Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel (CPPP) in early 2026, to make a decision on if to introduce the proposals set out. The date of the meeting will be sent to all objectors as well as published on this page.

Further updates will also be available on this webpage.