Swaffham Town Council is thinking about taking over some local car parks from Breckland District Council. We want to hear your views before any decisions are made. Please use the link at the bottom of page to complete the survey.
At the moment, Breckland District Council has only offered two car parks to the Town Council:
- Theatre Street
- Lynn Street
The Market Place and Station Street car parks are not included in this offer.
Local government is changing. Soon, Breckland District Council and Norfolk County Council will be replaced by one new unitary council, which will take over their services.
There is concern that this new council may see car parks mainly as a way to raise money, rather than as a service for residents, visitors, and local businesses.
Why this matters
- If the Town Council does not take over the car parks, it is likely the new unitary council will introduce parking charges.
- If the Town Council does take them over, the car parks will still cost money to run, but decisions would be made locally.
The cost of running the car parks could be paid for by:
- Parking charges
- A small increase in council tax
- Or a mix of both
Any money raised would stay in Swaffham, either to support local projects or help keep council tax lower.
Car parking is not truly “free” — the costs are currently paid through council tax by households across the whole Breckland area.
The key question
Who should pay for car parking in the future:
- Local residents
- Or the people who use the car parks?
This survey is your chance to share your views. Your answers will help Swaffham Town Councillors make a decision that reflects what the community wants.
Thank you for taking the time to have your say.