To acknowledge receipt and consider a petition containing 1000 signatures from Dacorum Residents (1415 signatures in total as at 5th July 2016) regarding the proposed development of a Multi Storey Car Park in Berkhamsted. The petition gathered on ‘Change.org’, addressed to Andrew Williams, Leader of the Council is worded as follows:
“Stop high-rise car park in historic Berkhamsted conservation area”
Decision:
The receipt of a petition containing over 1000 signatures from Dacorum Residents regarding the proposed development of a Multi Storey Car Park in Berkhamsted was acknowledged.
Resolved:
The Council continue to proceed with the proposed development and refer the matter to a future meeting of the Development Control Committee for consideration of the planning application.
Full details can be found in the minutes.
Minutes:
To acknowledge receipt and consider a petition containing 1000 signatures from Dacorum Residents (1415 signatures in total as at 5th July 2016) regarding the proposed development of a Multi Storey Car Park in Berkhamsted. The petition gathered on ‘Change.org’, addressed to Andrew Williams, Leader of the Council is worded as follows:
“Stop high-rise car park in historic Berkhamsted conservation area”
Wendy Conian
Thank you for the opportunity for letting me speak, I started the petition and I hope to give a voice to the opposition which comes from across the spectrum and the town’s community. It is concerning that Dacorum believes an expensive multi storey car park in an historic market town is the only answer. There has been no consideration given to cheaper, less disruptive solutions. It is not good enough; Dacorum Borough Council is not just ignoring residents but their own Urban Transport Plan. There has been no wider public consultation as promised and with the deep cuts within local government, Dacorum Borough Council has spent £350,000 on consultancy fees and £3.5 million has been allocated to the development of the car park. Dacorum should be learning from other councils and their innovative travel plan in Maylands. I hope that members intervene and stop the plans and the process, set up an inquiry into the process and ensure there is wider consultation.
John Higgins
I was a Berkhamsted Town Councillor until 2015 when I resigned over several issues, the car park being one of them. I was happy to support the Conservative manifesto promise of a new car park for Berkhamsted but I was assured there would be a phased programme of residential parking. I was informed that there were no further plans to revisit the issue in the next ten years. Efforts to discuss other options were dismissed by senior borough councillors. There has been no public consultation and the Berkhamsted borough councillors have favoured commercial interests over the opinions of residents. There are just four routes in the town centre which all end up in one central crossing. There has been a significant increase in traffic in the past years and a car park close to this junction will only add to congestion. I am urging the council to halt development and take control of the process until these issues have been addressed.
Jon Rollit
I am a resident of Berkhamsted and I want the council to consider other options. I use Lower Kings Road most mornings and the traffic backs up from the junction to the canal bridge. The area chosen for this car park is well used by pedestrians as a cut through and the development would have a detrimental effect and would make it a dark and dangerous place in a conservation area. The current car park is rarely full so do we really need another one? The money could be spent more wisely with informative signs pointing people to current parking and creating spaces across the town to distribute parking. Encouraging walking, cycling and implementing a bus hopper and removing cars should be a priority.
Comments from Councillors
Councillor Matthews said he was a member of the Berkhamsted Parking Forum. There have been meetings with residents, employers, DBC officers and the Portfolio Holder every few weeks to try and come up with a solution. Councillor Matthews has spoken to many residents who support the plans for a car park from newcomers to people who have lived in Berkhamsted all their lives. Can Councillor Williams confirm that he has received a letter of support from the Chamber of Commerce?
Councillor Marshall asked if there was a need for a car park and if it was in the right place? She said Berkhamsted was a vibrant town popular with shoppers. Additional parking in Berkhamsted has been before the council for many years. The current car parking is at 92% occupancy at peak times which does not allow for any more visitors. It is clear that the need for car parking is undeniable. Having car parking away from the town centre would be pointless and it is down to the Development Control Committee to assess the plans. Should there be a car park? To me, the obvious answer is yes.
Cllr W Wyatt-Lowe arrived at 8:35pm
Councillor Mahmood said he had read the reports after being made aware of the petition. He said that he visits Berkhamsted on a fortnightly basis and his observation – although not scientific – is that there is a need for a car park. It is one of the few towns in Hertfordshire without adequate car parking.
Councillor Anderson said he had listened to the comments made by the speakers and feels the issues are over the concept, not the design of the car park. He echoed previous comments from members about the evident need for a car park. The pleas from the speakers about encouraging use of public transport may well be served by this new car park. It is a paradox situation where more commuters can park in the car park and make use of the trains. I support the need for more parking.
Councillor Williams confirmed in response to Councillor Matthews question that he had received a letter of support. This petition calls on me to stop the process; I do not intend to stop the process. This car park meets a proven need and was a key part of the electoral campaign in 2015. There wasn’t sufficient alternative parking and it is up to Berkhamsted Town Council to consult with residents to revisit these issues. This petition has received a significant number of signatures but this is only one side of the argument. I have been following the petition from the start and have followed the process and the comments on social media which I feel are more balanced. The council is currently working to try and satisfy the requirements of Herts Highways before the process goes any further. Successful towns need good parking. The population of Hertfordshire is set to increase 15% by 2030 and rise again another 15% by 2050. This will obviously cause an increase in demand. The £3 million allocated for the car park is capital funded which cannot be moved to other projects. I acknowledge receipt of the petition and it will be referred to the Development Control Committee to make the final decision.
Resolved:
The Council continue to proceed with the proposed development and refer the matter to a future meeting of the Development Control Committee for consideration of the planning application