Councillor Cowan asks 'What price inflation now'? As commuters park in narrow streets near Digswell North station

9.25.57pm GMT Fri 23rd Jan 2009

With half the spaces empty, putting the price up will create even more gaps.

Liberal Democrat county and borough councillor Malcolm Cowan has criticised the ever-rising cost of parking at local stations. He says: I particularly know about what is happening at Welwyn North station. Each year as the prices go up far faster than inflation, more and more travellers vote with their wallets and park on nearby streets, such as New Road. This commonly has over 50 cars parked, causing chaos whenever a lorry tries to use the road, because it isn't wide enough.

The prices are quite high enough already. Putting them up will create more gaps.

'I have pointed out personally to Elaine Holt, Managing Director of Fist Capital Connect that they are actually losing money by pushing up prices so far that their car park is increasingly empty. In a visit on 23 January, I counted 60 empty spaces in the west car park alone. this is daft. We all lose - they lose money, the residents face traffic chaos and motorists are parking where their cars could get damaged.'

Malcolm added 'The borough and county council should be talking to FCC to try to get some sense in - it is no way to run a business that 40% of your capacity is not used.'