Urging Central Beds Council to keep Arlesey car park free on weekends

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

THURSDAY 16^th JULY 2026

Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, has come out firmly against a move that would remove free weekend parking at Arlesey Station's Henlow-side car park.

After being built, as a section 106 benefit of new housing, the car park was to be free on weekends. It was a key transport improvement won from accepting new housing.

Despite this commitment being in place from the outset from Central Bedfordshire Council, local rail users had to campaign tirelessly for years before the car park owner and operator finally honoured the obligation in 2024.

Now, an application has been submitted to remove that requirement altogether, paving the way for weekend parking charges to be reintroduced.

Strathern has written to Central Beds Council to voice his strong opposition. Beyond the benefits for those using the station on the weekend, Strathern also cited in his letter it would hurt local community events. He added that the move would undermine the trust residents had that new developments would mean section 106 benefits.

Strathern is encouraging anyone who shares these concerns to make their views known by submitting an objection to the planning application.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

"This simply can't be fair or right. Free weekend parking was secured as a community benefit through the planning process and, after years of campaigning by local residents and rail users, it was finally delivered.

"To now see an attempt to strip away that commitment and return to charging people at weekends is deeply disappointing.

"If benefits secured through planning agreements can simply be abandoned later down the line, it undermines public confidence in the entire planning system.

"That's why I have formally written to Central Bedfordshire Council to object to this application and urge planners to do the right thing by rejecting it."

Notes for Editors

You can see attached Strathern’s Facebook post on this here.

You can see attached Strathern’s letter.

Residents can give their thoughts to the consultation here.