Parking charge plans may be reviewed, says council

A council leader says he will listen to locals who are worried about higher parking charges in Northampton.

Mark Arnull, who leads the Reform UK-run West Northamptonshire Council, said he could look again at plans to take away free weekend parking in Northampton.

The authority is planning to put up charges, end two hours of free parking at weekends and remove discounts for blue badge holders in April as part of the 2026-27 budget.

Arnull told Annabel Amos on BBC Radio Northampton: "If we've not got it quite right, then I don't have any shame in listening to residents and business concerns."

He added: "At the moment we have set a budget with those final proposals. It is in my gift to alter that if needs be to make sure we're stimulating the economy the way we should."

The council has already reversed plans to remove free parking in Brackley, Towcester and Daventry.

Patrick Leonard, from Montague Jeffrey, a menswear shop on St Giles Street in Northampton town centre, said the loss of free parking was a "big concern".

"Our business receives a significant number of customers who use the free period to maximise effect," he said.

"Town centres like us need every little ounce of encouragement to get them back into the town centre."

Arnull said the decision was partially based on car park data, with many visitors staying for four to five hours on weekends.

"And if they're doing that, they're obviously spending money doing different things in different areas of leisure and retail," he added.

Dan Lister, leader of the Conservative group on West Northamptonshire Council, said: "This administration has already been forced to abandon its parking plans in Daventry, Towcester and Brackley, and now they are admitting they may have got Northampton wrong too.

"We put forward a fully costed amendment to protect and extend free parking as an incentive to get people into town and supporting local shops. They were not interested.

"They pressed ahead regardless, stripping away something that drives footfall and supports local businesses. They had the chance to get this right and chose not to."

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