THE LEADER of Harlow Council has detailed the number of new parking spaces created over the last eighteen months.

It came after a question from a member of the public at Thursday night’s council meeting.

Roy Court to Councillor Mark Ingall (Leader of the Council):

On 1 May 2019 you invited residents to suggest areas which could be used to provide additional parking spaces within housing estates.

Can you provide me with a list of:
i) Areas where residents suggested land could be used for this purpose.
ii) What has been done by the council to assess those areas.
iii) A list of areas which have been completed and the number of new spaces created.

Reply from Councillor Mark Ingall (Leader of the Council):

Following my invitation for residents to suggest potential areas for parking schemes, a press statement was released in September 2019 setting out schemes which would be progressed to provide 73 additional spaces. These included.

a) A scheme in Hookfield which was completed later that year providing 9 spaces;
b) A scheme in Longfield providing 8 spaces.
c) Several sites suggested by Councillors and/or residents for the first phase which were as follows, providing 56 spaces:
i) Shawbridge – 12 spaces
ii) Wharley Hook – 15 spaces
iii) Pear Tree Mead – 6 spaces

iv) Spinning Wheel Mead – 15 spaces
v) Barnmead/Five Acres – 8 spaces (Planning refused currently on
hold)
vi) Bishopsfield (number of spaces yet to be confirmed)

Therefore, minus the scheme at Barnmead/Five Acres there are 65 deliverable spaces.

d) A number of other sites have been considered for later phases

The Council carried out a robust assessment of all sites that will be progressed to development, and looked at the practicalities and costs associated with creating spaces on these sites. Where sites have not yet been assessed this will be done prior to the sites progressing.

Unfortunately due to the need to obtain planning permission and then the challenges presented by Covid, no further schemes apart from that at Hookfield have been delivered.

However, I can assure you that providing additional parking is still a priority for this Council and there is a pipeline of schemes to deliver much needed parking spaces in the town. We are looking to complete these as soon as we can.

Subject to Covid restrictions it is hoped these can be delivered in 2021/22.