Fears roads could be 'lined with cars' amid park's car parking charge proposal

Entrance to Bouskell Park
-Credit: (Image: Google)


Car parking charges are set to be introduced at a Leicestershire park. Blaby District Council says the proposal will enhance the visitor experience, but it has caused controversy with some.

The move, which is set for Bouskell Car Park in Blaby's Welford Road, comes as a range of improvement works are planned. Once reopened, the district council said it is proposing to introduce car parking charges "to help contribute towards the cost of maintaining and enhancing the park".

A report outlining the changes will be taken to the council's next cabinet meeting on Tuesday September 16. However, it has attracted much opposition, with Blaby District Councillor Paul Hartshorn saying: "No! To parking charges in Bouskell Park. Like Groundhog Day the Conservative administration at Blaby District Council have come up with yet another scheme to make accessing one more green space in Blaby out of reach for many of those who live here."

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Coun Hartshorn said park visitors who could not pay would "simply park on-street" for free. He said that would leave Freer Close and Welford Road "lined with cars during the paying hours".

Residents are also concerned. One said: "I totally agree. I already get numerous complaints about the parking issues in Blaby.

"There are cars parked in many of the residential streets in the village, causing difficulties for residents and Sycamore Street and Welford Road already have too many parked cars, with problems caused by excessive vehicles, especially at school drop off and pick up times. Does the car park need to be 'improved'?"

The council said during the refurbishment works, it will be resurfacing and extending the existing car park to meet customer demand. There will also be landscape improvements with low-level lighting installed, and parking bays will be clearly marked including two accessible spaces, the council added.

Bouskell Park signage
Blaby District Council says the works are being planned to the car park to enhance the visitor experience -Credit:Google

The authority said the car park area will be fenced off during the renovations, which are expected to start in October, "weather permitting" and will last around 12 to 16 weeks. Pedestrians will still be able to access the park at all times, they added.

The council said the changes aligned with its car parking strategy and the parks and open spaces strategy 2024-34 which it said sets out a vision for the district’s open spaces. It is expected the opening times of the car park itself will remain 7am to 8.30pm in summer months and 7am to 7pm in winter but charges will only apply between 8am and 6pm, it added.

However, Coun Hartshorn said the car parking strategy was not working and was making a loss. He said: "We only have to look at what effect of charging in Blaby village centre car parks is having - cars lining the streets to benefit from free off-street parking rather than paying a parking fee. The same will happen if these plans to make visitors pay to visit Bouskell Park go ahead."

Councillor Nigel Grundy, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: “The refurbished car park at Bouskell will be a vast improvement to what is available for visitors currently and hopefully will enable us to expand facilities there. We realise introducing car parking charges will not be popular and we have not taken this decision lightly.

"However, the cost of maintaining the parkland itself, and now the refurbished car park, will need to be found from the Council’s budget going forward. Our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy reinforces the importance of our green spaces for communities and wildlife alike.

"As a Council we want to make sure they are managed in the most appropriate and sustainable way. Part of that may involve other agencies taking on responsibility for their care. It is all about protecting these natural places for generations to come.”

At it's meeting on September 16, the council said cabinet members will decide on whether to proceed with the Bouskell Park car park and additional proposals, which include:

  • Continuing to enforce car parking at Narborough station ticket office

  • Allowing NHS permits for Northfield Medical Centre to be used at Enderby Road

  • Introducing season tickets for Johns Court, Weavers Court and Enderby Road

  • Enabling enforcement at potential future EV charging bays at Enderby and Huncote Leisure Centres

If the proposals are approved, a statutory 21-day public consultation period will begin on Tuesday, October 1, the council said.

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