Breckland Council halts parking charges plan after £55,000 spend

Breckland Council recently spent over £55,000 on plans to introduce car parking charges in several towns, including Thetford and Swaffham, but has now paused the scheme due to local government reorganisation plans. The council's initial proposal faced significant backlash from business owners, who feared the charges would harm struggling high streets, resulting in three businesses announcing closures. Despite the controversy, the council had pushed forward with consultations before halting the scheme, emphasizing that the research conducted is not wasted. The planned changes are part of broader Labour-led devolution efforts, which aim to abolish the current two-tier council system in Norfolk in favor of unitary councils. Breckland leaders maintain that the parking fees are necessary for maintaining car park facilities, although many locals remain skeptical. The council's future steps regarding the parking charges remain uncertain as they navigate these structural changes.