2024 Parking Strategy Proposal Descriptions

Emissions-based permit or parking charging is when vehicles that emit fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are charged less for parking than vehicles that emit more carbon dioxide emissions. Vehicles are grouped into different pricing bands depending on their CO2 emissions, measured in grams of CO2 per kilometre driven (g/km). You can find out the emissions level for your vehicle by using the DVLA database. 

Emissions-based charging is proposed to ensure that parking is managed in a way that discourages motor vehicle ownership and use. Where there is an essential need for a private vehicle, the aim is to encourage the switch to a lower-polluting vehicle. This objective aligns with East Herts’ broader environmental, public health, and transport goals. 
 

Time-based pricing works by having different parking charges for peak and off peak times. This can reflect usage throughout the day, with higher parking charges for busy peak times, and lower charges for off peak times. This can encourage more journeys in quieter, off peak times and help to regulate demand across our car parks. 

A diesel surcharge would be an additional charge for diesel vehicles to park in East Herts, beyond the standard permit or parking charge. The surcharge aims to address the significant impact that diesel fuel has on poor air quality and health and to encourage a shift from higher-polluting vehicles to lower-polluting vehicles. 

East Herts is committed to regularly reviewing the parking charges (and terms and conditions) to discourage non-essential motor vehicle use and ownership. Under this proposal, the current levels of parking charges for the products above would be reviewed to determine whether further increases [OR any changes] are necessary. Current charge levels would be reviewed within the context of:

• Effectiveness in meeting East Herts environmental and transport goals
• Effectiveness in achieving fiscal stability for East Herts, particularly in sustaining the costs of parking operations. 
• Benchmarking of parking prices in neighbouring/similar local authorities 
   

This proposal would look at removing the all-day tariff option in some car parks where it is currently available. Instead, these car parks could become short-stay car parks or additional hourly fees would be introduced to enable a longer stay when necessary. This proposal is intended to encourage conscientious use of these car parks in order to manage demand. Discouraging all-day stays will also encourage greater turnover of parking spaces, which may benefit nearby businesses. All-day parking options will remain for some car parks. 
 

Preliminary reviews have deemed that the following car parks may benefit from this proposal: Bishop’s Stortford Northgate End, Apton Road, and Basbow Lane.
 

This proposal would review the existing levels of charges and hours for car parks and on-street parking across East Herts and propose changes to make them fairer and more consistent across the district.

 A review would also be conducted of the current locations of parking zones to determine whether any should be reduced or expanded in size or whether additional zones should be introduced throughout East Herts.

The existing parking zones can be found here. 
The existing East Herts car parks can be found here. 
 

A workplace parking levy (WPL) is a licensing scheme where employers are charged for the number of parking places that they provide that are occupied by their employers. A WPL does not have to apply to the entire borough and this proposal would likely introduce a WPL in only some areas of East Herts, like town centres, and employment sites that are well served by public transport. A WPL intends to help manage the demand for parking and support more sustainable travel. The revenue generated from a WPL must be reinvested in the local transport network, so it can also help to encourage more sustainable travel infrastructure, such as improved cycling and walking links.

Car-sharing (also known as lift-sharing or car-pooling) is when journeys are shared using one vehicle between multiple people who have a common or similar route. Because it helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, car-sharing can improve road congestion and reduce transport-related emissions and air pollution. Car-sharing also benefits the users as they can share travel costs. Incentives to promote car-sharing could include discounted parking charges for those who car-share or reductions from a workplace parking levy for businesses who introduce a car-sharing scheme for their employees.