Parking charge rise was error, says West Northamptonshire Council
Refunds will be issued to those impacted
West Northamptonshire Council has announced refunds for incorrect parking charges introduced at its off-street parking facilities in Northampton from 1st April 2026.
The error occurred when revised charges were applied, including fees for Blue Badge holders, without the necessary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, which requires public consultation prior to changes.
Blue Badge holders and other motorists who paid the increased fees will receive refunds for the amounts paid since the commencement of the incorrect charges.
Penalty Charge Notices issued under the new charges will also be refunded.
Where possible, reimbursements will be processed automatically.
Where automatic reimbursement is not feasible, the Council plans to facilitate easy manual claiming.
Affected Northampton car parks include Albion Place, Campbell Square, Midsummer Meadow, The Ridings, St John’s Multi-Storey, Upper Mounts, and Wellington Street.
Additionally, free parking on weekends and bank holidays has been removed at these locations, along with free Saturday morning parking at Brixworth Country Park.
Before reintroducing any changes, a formal public consultation will occur, lasting at least 21 days to allow the public an opportunity to comment.
Notices about the consultation have been published in local media and displayed in the affected car parks.
Stuart Timmiss, Executive Director of Place, Economy and the Environment, stated: “We apologise unreservedly to anyone that has been affected by this error."
Further details on claiming refunds will be available on the Council's website and social media channels.
On-street parking charges remain unaffected by this issue.