The Town Council have put out a proposal on a new residents parking scheme for consultation. They have chosen the school summer holidays within which to do this, the flyers being delivered over the weekend and the consultation ending at the end of August. What can we do to extend the consultation given so many residents are away on school holidays during this time?

The flyer tells me that they have a copy of the consultation form on their website, however the form on the berkhamsted town council website is for an old consultation around parking. I have emailed the town council, but so far have only had a delayed delivery message on the email. I am happy to scan and email you a copy and/or load it somehow on this site (if that's possible?) and yes, lets write en-masse.

http://tinyurl.com/387lez3

If our town council had been more pro-active about insisting that London Midland reduce the cost of parking at the station carpark instead of supporting the addition of another level then the need for a parking scheme would not be necessary. The town council should have backed the concerned residents of the town (who they are meant to represent) who were against the additional level of parking. Instead they have allowed London Midland to keep their parking fees at the same price, increase the number of spaces and people are still not parking there because it is too expensive. The carpark was never full before the additional level was added because those who refused to pay the outrageous parking fees would park in residential streets. If the prices were reasonable, people would park at the station which would be more convenient for them as they would have less distance to walk to catch their trains. This would then free up the spaces in the residential streets.

This parking scheme is not going to benefit the residents of our town, it is basically a money making scheme for the council. Why should we have to pay to park outside our house just because our town council decides its a good way to raise some funds. If the town council and borough council would stop granting planning permission for housing developments in our town there wouldn't be these parking issues. This scheme is unfair, unnecessary and certainly not being considered for the benefit of Berkhamsted residents.

I agree that some comuters won't pay to park at the station, but many will - just not the prices that are currently being charged. I only occassionally need to park my car near the station, and often it's only for 1/2 a day or less. Under the old parking management, you could pay by the hour, now I have no choice but to pay for a full days parking, even if only using the car park for a couple of hours. When you consider the old station car park was rarely full. If the prices were fairer, I would pay to park there and would be one less car off the streets around the station. If, the council had agreed to the second tier on the condition that parking was free, then the parking problem would have seen significant in-roads. Not likely I know, but the council needs to think about alternative ways to takle this issue other than simply charging residents to park outside their own home. I grew up in a crowded area in the city where parking was by permit and it brings far, far more problems than it solves.