Derbyshire Dales District Council is planning significant changes to parking fees, sparking public outcry and petitions against the proposed charges.
Derbyshire: So, there’s a bit of a stir going on with the Derbyshire Dales District Council. They’re thinking about changing up the parking situation, and not everyone’s happy about it. They want to introduce fees for some of the free car parks, which has led to a lot of folks voicing their concerns.
They’re planning to allow blue badge holders some free parking time in town center spots and a short free period in Ashbourne. But the big news is that they might start charging for six currently free car parks. People are really pushing back against this idea.
In fact, a recent survey showed that about 60% of respondents were against these changes. That’s a pretty solid majority! Petitions are flying around too, with hundreds of signatures already collected. It seems like the community is rallying together to keep their free parking.
On top of that, they’re also looking at seasonal charges in Matlock Bath, which could mean higher fees during the busy tourist months. Some businesses are split on this, but it looks like the council is moving forward with their plans regardless.
Next week, they’ll be discussing these changes further, but it’s clear that the future of free parking is still up in the air. It’s a bit of a mess, and it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out!