Derbyshire Dales District Council plans to change parking fees, facing strong public opposition. Free parking may be replaced with charges in six locations.
Derbyshire: There’s a lot of buzz about parking changes in Derbyshire. The council is thinking about charging for six free car parks, and folks are not happy.
Many people, around 60%, said they don’t want these charges. They worry about how it will affect businesses and visitors. The council says free parking costs money to maintain.
Petitions are flying around too. One in Cromford got 477 signatures, and another from a pub in Middleton had 131. People are really making their voices heard.
They’re also looking at seasonal charges in Matlock Bath. The idea is to have lower fees during off-peak times and higher ones when tourists flood in. It seems like a mixed bag of support for that plan.
Some businesses and workers are against it, while others are in favor. It’s a bit of a tug-of-war over what’s best for the area.
Next week, the council will discuss changes that won’t yet touch the free car parks. Some car parks will keep the same fees, while others will see changes. It’s all still up in the air.
