Town says no to compulsory High Street parking app

There is currently free parking for one hour along much of Newland Street in Witham

A town council has pushed back against plans to introduce a mobile app which residents would have to download to continue claiming free High Street parking.

Witham Town Council said the North Essex Parking Partnership's (NEPP) planned changes to parking in Newland Street, where it is currently free to park for one hour without using an app, would affect older people who did not have smartphones.

Phil Barlow, chairman of the council's planning and transport committee, said 1,200 people had signed a petition opposing the changes earlier this year.

The NEPP, which oversees street parking in the area, said the approach had been successful elsewhere in Essex.

It had originally planned to scrap the free parking altogether, before offering the current proposal after receiving objections.

Councillors met at Witham Town Hall on Monday

"The feedback we get from residents is that they value the one hour free parking," said Barlow, a Labour councillor.

"It gives them the opportunity to pop in the shops... not to spend a huge amount of time there."

Under the plans, drivers would be able to park their vehicles for free for one hour, with the option to pay for a second hour if needed.

The stay would need to be registered using than app in either case, which Barlow said was unacceptable because some older residents did not have mobile phones.

He said the council would write to NEPP, which is made up of representatives from several councils including Braintree District Council which covers Witham, to say it does not welcome the plans.

'Fair balance'

According to a council agenda, the authority was advised that NEPP would consider reducing or removing enforcement from the parking spaces in question "should we not secure the political support required".

NEPP told the BBC "significant resources" were used to enforce parking restrictions in Newland Street, which is a lower risk area compared to places like outside schools.

A spokesman said: "We believe these adjustments strike a fair balance, addressing feedback while allowing us to allocate resources efficiently."