Parking charges will 'penalise the community'

3 hours ago

Alex Pope,Northamptonshireand

Nadia Lincoln,Local Democracy reporter

News image — Colin Ingle said up until now his cafe, the Drovers Return, had been "ticking along nicely"

The Drovers Return Cafe A man, standing in the doorway of a cafe, wearing a black apron, and a grey top. People are inside the building. There are signs above and either side of the door and chairs and a table outside. The man looks serious. — Colin Ingle said up until now his cafe, the Drovers Return, had been "ticking along nicely"

The owner of a cafe has said the introduction of proposed car park charges to a number of country parks will "penalise the local community".

West Northamptonshire Council is looking to introduce fees at Hunsbury Hill, West Hunsbury and Bedford Road Picnic Area in Northampton.

Colin Ingle, who has run the Drovers Return Cafe at Hunsbury Hill for 15 years, said it would "devastate my business".

The Reform UK-run council said no decision had been taken, but the possible cost would be in line with charges for other parks across the county.

The Drovers Return Cafe Six people, all sitting down, at a table, with mugs of tea and coffees in front of them. A dog is underneath the round table. One man has a hat on, the rest are wearing coats, with one man in short sleeves and an apron. They are in a cafe, they looks like a wooden shed. — Colin Ingle (second right) said most of his customers were pensioners and the charges would affect them

Ingle said the car park at Hunsbury Hill had always been free and it was not in a good state.

He said its surface was like a "mud bath" and his customers had donated £350 for gravel to be put down "so they can walk here without walking through mud".

The business was created when he renovated an abandoned toilet block, he added.

The Drovers Return Cafe An old building, with danger keep out signs, a damaged roof, and lots of foliage all around it. — The Drovers Return Cafe replaced a derelict building

He said the park was in the middle of a residential area and "all the other country parks are outside of town".

"This is the only community facility in West Hunsbury," he said.

"It's going to affect my business; it could be devastating; anyone coming for a cup of coffee, it will cost them treble by the time they've paid for parking.

"It will clog up the local roads; people will park on the streets; this is going to penalise the local community."

Lizzy's Pet Services A woman, with black and red hair, with a coat on and its hood up, holding onto two dogs, in each arm. She is looking at the camera and so are the dogs. Trees are behind her and leaves are on the ground. Both dogs have coats on. — Lizzy Folwell said her dog-walking service would have to pay £80 a week if they continued to use the park as they currently do

Lizzy Folwell runs Lizzy's Pet Services, which looks after dogs and is based in Abington.

She said: "My husband and I do two walks a day. If we have to pay to park it will cost us £80 a week.

"All that extra money, when everything is going up, it's going to be hard on us. We rely on our vehicles."

She said it would mean she would have to park in residential areas close to the park, which she described as "madness".

A petition has been started by a member of the Friends of West Hunsbury Parks, to stop the "ill-advised" charges, and it has gained more than 2,000 signatures.

Tracey Wood, its deputy chairman, said the plans had been a "bolt out of the blue".

"We've all been quite devastated about it."

The fees, in line with other country parks would be £2 for up to an hour, with a £1 increase every hour, up to six hours.

The all-day rate would be £8, a single park season ticket £70, and for all the councils' country parks it would be £95.

Lizzy's Pet Services Two people, in a field, out walking seven dogs. Both people are holding leads, looking at the camera and smiling. Lizzy has on a long green coat, dark trousers, black top and has black and white hair. Tom has on a black hat, green coat, trousers boots and a top. He has a ginger beard. Trees are behind them. — Lizzy Folwell runs a dog walking business with her husband Tom Murray

A council spokesperson said the charges were "consulted on as part of the council's budget consultation and the decision then taken in principle to proceed with them".

A formal public consultation runs until 14 May and the council said it wanted as many people as possible to comment.

It comes as the council had to apologise for introducing higher car park charges "in error" without carrying out a statutory public consultation before making the changes.

The council said any new fees aimed to "ensure a fair and consistent approach".

"Rising costs, including inflation and the ongoing expense of maintaining parks and green spaces to a good standard for everyone to enjoy, are key factors behind the proposals," it added.

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