Proposed changes to parking arrangements - which would have had an effect on motorists coming in to Ashby town centre - are being put on hold.

North West Leicestershire District Council began its review of car parking in the district in May last year against what it described as a backdrop of increasing financial pressure and the need to make significant savings.

Due to concerns raised, plans have now been paused and will not be revisited until the middle of 2025 at the earliest.

Among the suggested changes in and around Ashby were:

• Charges increased in Ashby to be in line with similar charges in neighbouring district and borough councils
• Two hours' free parking in all council car parks across the district - except Ashby - with charges applied after this
• North Street and South Street car parks in Ashby changed to become short-stay
• A new long-stay car park at Money Hill in Ashby, including an electric vehicle charging hub.

But a council officer's statement has provided an update on the situation - and promises to consult key Ashby organisations before any changes are made.

The statement says: "The review launched with an initial public consultation to understand how people living in, working in and visiting the district used the council's car parking facilities.

South Street car park in Ashby. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

"People were asked to give their views on how they would be affected by a number of potential changes to car parking charges.

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"This consultation was followed by several months of work by officers to analyse the feedback received from the survey and through other stakeholder engagement to put forward a set of proposals to members. 

"Based on feedback from councillors and local businesses, these proposals were revised for a second time last Autumn and were due to be discussed at the council's Community Scrutiny in December before being voted on by Cabinet that same month.

"However, shortly before the Community Scrutiny meeting, the decision was taken to pause the car parking review pending further evaluation of the impact the proposed changes may have on local businesses and residents.

"The charges will remain as they are currently until further notice. 

"Any restarting of the review of our car park charges will of course include key stakeholder engagement including Ashby BID as well as parish and town councils, however it is unlikely this work will be started until mid to late 2025."

Shortly before the Community Scrutiny meeting in December, Alliance Members of NWLDC and Ashby Town Councillor Pejman Zamani raised concerns about the impact on local businesses and appealed for much further consultation. 

Further to which, they successfully secured a pause to the review and assurance that no further options would be considered until further consultation with the local business community and other stakeholders including Ashby BID. 

The current parking arrangements will therefore remain unaffected for the foreseeable future.

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