Proposed changes to car park operational hours, tariffs and maximum stay periods

Following a review of its Off-Street Parking Places, East Hertfordshire District Council proposes to amend its 2014 Off-Street Parking Places Orders for each area in the district.

The general effect of the Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be to:

Proposed changes in Hertford

• Introduce a maximum stay of 3 hours for all customers at Gascoyne Way Level ‘A’, Hertford.
• Amend Old London Road, Hertford to include both long and short stay options.
  
  

Proposed changes in Bishop's Stortford

• Convert some of the underused disabled bays on the ground floor of Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford to parent and child bays.
• Introduce a 2.5-hour parking charge to Grange Paddocks A, Bishop’s Stortford.
• Extend operational hours at Grange Paddocks B and C, Bishop’s Stortford to 8:00pm.
• Correct administrative issues in Link Road and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford relating to car club bays and operational hours.
  
  

Proposed changes in Buntingford

• Introduce weekend charges at Bowling Green Lane, matching Stanstead Abbotts Rural car park’s hours (7:30am – 6:30pm). On weekdays and Saturday, there would be a 30-minute free period and charges would start at 75p for an hour. On Sunday, the £2.10 all day charge would apply.
  
  

Proposed changes in Sawbridgeworth

• Introduce weekend charges at Bell Street in line with the current chargeable times on weekdays. On weekdays and Saturday there would be a 30-minute free period and charges would start at 75p for an hour. On Sunday, the £2.10 all day charge would apply.
  
  

Proposed changes in Ware

• Merge Ware car parks Kibes Lane North and Kibes Lane South into a single Kibes Lane car park, with short stay Monday to Saturday and long stay on Sundays and public holidays.
• Merge Ware car parks Amwell End East and Amwell End West into a single Amwell End car park.
• Rename the Library car park in Ware to Burgage Lane and reduce the maximum stay to 3 hours.
  
  

Proposed changes across all car parks

• Introduce a 3-hour limit for free parking by Blue Badge holders in all car parks, with no return permitted during the same operational hours.

The proposed changes for Bishop's Stortford, Hertford and Ware have been put forward to provide additional capacity and promote the better use of space in our car parks.

The proposed changes for Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth have been put forward to create standard operational hours and a consistent way of charging across the ‘rural’ car parks.

The proposals have been agreed by the Members of East Hertfordshire District Council and have been subject to consultation with Hertfordshire County Council. The local Police, Fire and Rescue Service have also been consulted, and the proposals are in line with East Herts Parking Strategy and County Transport Plans.

The order will also raise charges in all car parks from April 2026 in line with the Consumer Price Index, as already agreed by the council.