Ending Newberries Car Park free hour hits Radlett shops

Since June, shoppers visiting Watling Street shops in Radlett have no longer been able to park for free, for up to an hour, in the nearby Newberries Car Park.

There are some spots at the front of the same parade, but these are limited, and so motorists end up in a scramble to use those available or block access waiting for others to pull out.

Businesses fear that the difficulty parking maybe driving customers away from Radlett.

Fress Deli owner Martin Ment with Oliver Dowden (Image: Oliver Dowden) “It’s definitely affecting the trade because people will go somewhere where there is adequate parking to do what they need to do,” said Fress Deli owner Martin Ment.

“It definitely has been a massive uproar.”

Warren Lipman from the café Brass Monkey said he thinks there has always been a problem with parking in Radlett, but it has got worse since Newberries stopped being free.

Warren Lipman, at Brass Monkey. (Image: Warren Lipman) He added: “People would park their cars, run across, get a coffee and jump back in the car.

“But now many people won’t pay just to get a coffee. It has had an impact on us I think.”

Both described regularly seeing congestion and hearing beeping horns as motorists try to park in the spaces along Watling Street.

Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden says he has been pushing for changes after speaking to people in the road last week.

“‘It was good to be out along the High Street in Radlett recently with Cllr Lucy Selby talking to shopkeepers and seeing some friendly faces,” the former deputy prime minister said.

Oliver Dowden MP with Cllr Lucy Selby and the owner of Radlett Optician. (Image: Oliver Dowden) “At Radlett Opticians I discussed the impact car park charges in the area, including the decision taken by the Labour-Liberal Democrat run council to impose parking charges at Newberries Car Park.

“As I have said before, we should be encouraging residents to visit the High Street, not deter them.

“Lucy and I will continue to press the council on this matter.”

Hertsmere Borough Council highlighted that Aldenham Parish Council used to provide a subsidy to cover the cost of keeping the first hour free. The borough council asked the parish to bump it up after its analysis showed the subsidy was less than lost income, but it declined.

Councillor Chirs Mysers, who is responsible for street scene in the borough, said: “Along with all local authorities, Hertsmere continues to face tough financial decisions in relation to council services and, in making those decisions, we are of course mindful of the economic pressures which many of the borough’s residents and business owners are experiencing.

“This means we need to make difficult decisions to manage our reducing budget.”

The Labour councillor added that fees agreed in February followed a public consultation and formed the first rise “for some time”.

The use of Newberries car park has also apparently increased by 20 per cent in 2024 versus 2023.

He also said that, since the subsidy ended, the car park is now in-line with Hertsmere’s 14 other council-owned car pars.