The Problem
What West Northamptonshire Council is proposing and why it will hurt our towns
What’s Being Proposed
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is proposing to introduce parking charges in Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester for the first time. These market towns have always had free parking.
£5.50
Maximum charge to park
£475k
Already allocated for parking meters
£50m
Council budget gap they’re trying to fill
The Council’s Justification: At the Cabinet meeting on 22 December 2025, Councillor John Slope (Cabinet Member for Finance) stated:
“The reasons that we’re looking at parking charges is a fairness – why should the rest of West Northants subsidise Towcester and Daventry’s free parking?”
The Evidence: Parking Charges Kill Market Towns
National Research (February 2025)
62%
of drivers say parking charges put them off visiting high streets
56%
more likely to visit supermarkets with free parking
52%
prefer out-of-town shopping centres with free parking
Case Studies
York (2025)
After a 42% parking charge increase:
- 30,000 drop in footfall
- £8 million lost in town centre spending
- Car park usage fell by 45% at some locations
Dudley (2024-25)
After introducing parking charges:
- Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre lost 830 members within months
- £150,000 revenue loss
- Council subsequently had to cut charges
Councils That Have Reversed Course
Multiple councils across the UK have reversed parking charge decisions after experiencing the damage:
| Council | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Tameside (June 2025) | Now offers 2 hours free |
| Stockton-on-Tees (Dec 2025) | Restored first hour free after 93% said footfall was negatively affected |
| Kirklees | 42 of 57 car parks remain free after backlash |
| Bedford | Reversed Sunday and overnight charges |
| Dudley | Free parking “likely to be restored” |
Legal Concerns
Revenue Raising May Be Unlawful
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 permits parking charges only for traffic management purposes, not for raising revenue.
The Leading Case: R (Attfield) v London Borough of Barnet [2013]
- Barnet Council increased permit charges to generate revenue
- The High Court ruled this was unlawful
- The court held: “The 1984 Act is not a fiscal measure and does not authorise the authority to use its powers to charge local residents for parking in order to raise surplus revenue”
WNC’s Position Mirrors Barnet’s
- The “fairness” justification is a fiscal argument, not traffic management
- Explicit linkage to £50 million budget shortfall
- Pre-commitment of £475,000 for equipment before consultation closes suggests the decision has already been made
- Parking income described as forming “part of the council’s base budget”
If the council proceeds, we are prepared to pursue judicial review.
Contradicts the Council’s Own Policies
Conflicts with WNC Economic Growth Strategy:
- Priority Area 1 (Business Growth): Charges reduce customer accessibility
- Priority Area 3 (Vibrant Town Centres): Charges create barriers to access
- Priority Area 4 (Employment): Reduced footfall leads to job losses
Conflicts with One West Northamptonshire Plan:
- Priority 3 commits to “thriving towns and neighbourhoods”
- Charges discourage visits and reduce competitiveness against out-of-town retail
The Real Competition Has Free Parking
While Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester would face charges, the real competition offers free parking:
Customers will simply go elsewhere.