Dereham Town Council considers new car parking charges

Dereham Town Council is considering proposals to introduce parking charges at several sites, including Cherry Tree, Cowper Road, and Becclesgate car parks. The council recently took legal ownership of these facilities as part of a plan to transfer sites from Breckland to local town councils.

To cover estimated annual running costs of £150,000, the council is evaluating two main funding options: increasing the council tax share or implementing a tariff system. Under a proposed tariff system, residential parkers would pay approximately £240 per year, while workers and volunteers would pay up to £73 per year. Shoppers and those with private rights would be charged a total of £15 per year.

The council noted that any charges could be adjusted downwards for the first three years to better understand usage patterns and maintenance costs through ANPR technology. The proposals have faced local backlash, with some residents expressing concerns regarding the impact on local businesses.