The Cabinet Housing and Planning Panel (CHPP) were due to review a report about the initial proposals for parking in Welwyn on 17 November 2011 and make recommendations to the council’s Cabinet about the future of parking in the village. However, an alternative solution is now being discussed with Welwyn Parish Council to instead lease the car parks from the borough council.

As these discussions are still ongoing, no decision or recommendation can be made. Therefore, the meeting of CHPP on 17 November will not be considering the option of charging for parking Welwyn car parks at this stage.

If agreed, the latest proposal will see the parish council leasing the car parks from the borough council for a period of 125 years and enforcement within the High Street car park will remain responsibility of the borough council. As control of the car parks will then be under the control of the parish council, the borough council will no longer seek to introduce car park charges in the village.

Leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Councillor John Dean, said: “Following the consultation on the initial proposals for managing car parking in Welwyn, and the strength of public feeling displayed, we have proposed this alternative option to the parish council. I hope that this solution is found to be acceptable to all parties, in helping to manage the parking issues in the village.”