Wellingborough residents protest against Reform's pay-to-park proposals prior to executive meeting
Wellingborough residents – from across the political spectrum – have united to protest against North Northants Council’s (NNC) Reform leadership's proposals to bring in car park charges in the town.
NNC’s draft car park strategy, to be discussed at an executive meeting tomorrow (Tuesday), could see the end of free stays across all the unitary council owned parking spaces.
As well as Wellingborough, charging could be introduced to currently free car parks in Corby, Rushden, Burton Latimer, Thrapston, Desborough and Rothwell.
More than 60 supporters of the ‘Keep Free Parking in Wellingborough’ group stood in High Street at the entrance to Jackson’s Lane car park to show their opposition to the charging plans.
Freddie Harris from the Wellie Wombles group said: “Our unitary council is going to impose car parking charges over the whole NNC area.
"In Wellingborough, we are the poorest in comparison to Corby and Kettering. There are no bus services so people have to use the car. People living in the northern conurbations – Glenvale and Redwell – they can’t catch a bus.
"People who work in the town centre use the Jackson’s Lane car park. It would ruin the town centre – it makes no sense. NNC is spending money on the town centre, it’s going to be a wonderful place. Put in the charges afterwards if necessary.”
Campaigners were from across the political spectrum with Conservatives and Labour, Greens and Independents joining forces.
Now representing Reform, the leader of North Northants Council Cllr Martin Griffiths was once the Conservative leader of the now disbanded Borough Council of Wellingborough.
When running the council in the town, he and his former party colleagues pledged to keep free parking saying – “We will maintain free parking on council owned land in the Borough”.
An election leaflet issued by Cllr Griffiths ahead of the 2025 polls, stated: “Free parking is essential to help local businesses survive and to improve the town centre (Wellingborough) environment. Reform UK councillors will resist any attempts to impose charges.”
Now NNC faces a £13.6m black hole in its finances and is looking to claw back money as well as harmonise services across legacy council areas.
The draft car park strategy proposes charges at Jacksons Lane and Wellingborough’s multi-storey car park, with parking for more than six hours potentially costing £10.
Executive members will be asked to vote on the proposal that identifies revenue generation as a key objective, while new technology, payment systems, ANPR and enforcement that will carry implementation and ongoing costs.
The Conservative Group on Wellingborough Town Council joined other local political groups, community organisations and residents on Saturday to make a clear statement of opposition to North Northamptonshire Council’s proposals to introduce parking charges in currently free car parks.
Cllr Raz Koriya said "We were pleased to stand alongside people from across our communities who share our concerns about the impact these proposals could have on residents, local businesses and the future of our town centres.
“For us, this is part of a wider concern about the direction being taken by the Reform-led North Northamptonshire Council".
Mr Harris understands Wellingborough is lucky to have free parking but thinks the now disbanded Borough Council of Wellingborough left enough money in the bank to pay for it.
He said: “People say why should Wellingborough be free? But I say hang on a minute, the Borough Council of Wellingborough had £19m in the bank when it went to the unitary authority. A lot of that money was given away and we have no way of getting it back.
"I really think the charges would be a huge knock for the people. Jackson’s Lane needs to be free for shoppers but especially the workers. We’re a low-paid area and a lot of people are on the minimum wage.”
Rushden Lakes as well as retail parks at Kettering and Riverside in Northampton have free parking.
He added: "I do worry what it could do to the town.”
The car parks that could be affected.
- Multi-storey car park, Wellingborough
- Jackson’s Lane, Wellingborough
- Chancery Lane, Thrapston
- Sackville Street, Thrapston
- Duck Street, Rushden
- John Street, Rushden
- Rectory Road, Rushden
- Portland Street, Rushden
- North Street, Rushden
- Station Road, Rushden
- Market Hill, Rothwell
- Bakehouse Lane, Burton Latimer
- New Street, Desborough
- Churchill Way, Burton Latimer
- Masefield Close, Desborough
- Chapel Lane, Corby
NNC’s excutive will discuss the proposals on Tuesday (September 15) from 10am at Corby Cube and the papers are now available online. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube.
If the report is approved, formal public consultation on the draft strategy will begin as soon as possible and promoted via the council’s channels.
The findings of the consultation and draft strategy will then be reported to the council’s scrutiny committee before a final strategy is presented back to the executive for approval in early 2027.