Free weekend parking at Arlesey station under threat
Free weekend parking is under threat at a car park serving Arlesey Railway Station, after a request to modify a planning obligation
Free weekend parking is under threat at a car park serving Arlesey Railway Station, after a request to modify a planning obligation.
Parking charges could be applied seven days a week at the site next to the River Hiz, off Arlesey Road, at Henlow.
This would replace the current system of charging on Mondays to Fridays only, if a Section 106 (legal) agreement attached to a previous full planning permission is varied.
An approach has been made to Central Bedfordshire Council to allow the planning arrangement to be changed, having been granted in January 2011.
Those plans were for a 390-space car park, with an access road to serve the railway station, as well as the removal of some trees and landscaping.
The original legal agreement was between the local authority and the landowner. The car park is currently managed by Britannia Parking.
This documentation contains provisions regulating parking charges at the car park serving the land off Arlesey Road at Henlow, according to Hitchin-based Mark Scott Architectural Design Limited.
It currently provides that fees may be applied on weekdays, Monday to Friday only, with parking not charged at weekends, he said.
“The owner has requested that the principal obligation be varied, so parking charges may be applied seven days per week. Holidays and weekends would be charged at an off peak rate.
“The reason for the requested variation is to enable parking charges to be applied on weekends and bank holidays to assist in the proper management of the car park.
“This would discourage its misuse during periods when parking is free, and reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour associated with unmanaged or unrestricted parking at weekends and on bank holidays.”
The current wording would be replaced with: ‘Parking charges may be levied, collected and enforced on any day of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, subject to the applicable parking tariff, signage, statutory requirements and any other lawful regulatory requirements in force from time-to-time’, he added.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the purpose of this variation is to permit parking charges to be applied seven days per week. Nothing in the Deed requires the owner or operator of the car park to increase the weekly parking charges.”
Arlesey Rail Users’ Group has highlighted the issue, Independent Stotfold councillor Kat Woodfine posted on social media.
“The car park provides a much-needed facility at Arlesey Railway Station, helping to keep vehicles parked away from residential areas in the town,” she explained. “It also provides residents in surrounding villages with access to the station from the Henlow side.
“Free parking was originally scheduled as part of the Section 106 agreement, but was ignored by the site owners. A resident-led campaign to rectify this means anyone visiting the station enjoys free parking at weekends.
“It means Arlesey residents don’t suffer on-street station parking congestion. This would change if this application is passed, resulting in having to pay at weekends.”