Over recent weeks, many residents, businesses and visitors have contacted me regarding the proposed parking changes at Primrose Hill and St John’s Square car parks in Daventry. Following those concerns, I have now submitted a formal objection and representation to West Northamptonshire Council as part of the ongoing consultation process.
Earlier this year, following significant public opposition and our local petition signed by more than 10,000 residents, the Council confirmed that free parking would remain in Daventry, Towcester and Brackley. It is therefore understandable that these latest proposals have caused concern locally.
It is important to explain clearly what is, and is not, being proposed.
Under the current draft proposals, the first three hours of parking would remain free and parking would continue to remain free after 6pm. However, the proposals would introduce a £5 per hour charging structure for stays beyond the free period, alongside ANPR enforcement. The current daytime restrictions, which presently apply Monday to Saturday, would also extend into Sundays.
The proposed Order also changes how the two car parks would operate. At St John’s Square, a three hour maximum stay and revised no return period would remain in place. At Primrose Hill, the car park would remain designated as short stay, but the current no return restriction would be removed and there would be greater reliance on the £5 per hour charge after the free period to manage longer stays.
While some residents have pointed out that the proposed changes at Primrose Hill could offer greater flexibility, particularly as drivers would be able to stay longer beyond the free period rather than facing an immediate penalty, others have raised concerns about the level of the £5 per hour charge and the wider implications of moving towards a charging based system.
There are also practical questions about how the proposals would operate on the ground. For example, it is not currently clear how adjoining parking areas, such as the cinema car park, would be treated under the proposed arrangements, and how this would be enforced in practice.
More broadly, residents have contacted me with concerns about the impact these proposals could have on local businesses, town centre activity and the future direction of parking policy once ANPR infrastructure is in place.
I have also raised concerns regarding the commencement of ANPR related groundworks before the consultation process has concluded and have asked the Council to provide further clarification on a number of issues, including why the two car parks are being treated differently, how the ANPR system would operate in practice, what evidence the Council has relied upon to justify the proposals, whether any equality impact assessment has been carried out and whether these measures could lead to wider parking charges in future.
Residents can still make their views known as part of the consultation process before 14 May 2026.