West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed that off-street parking charges will be reinstated starting Friday, 1 May. The move follows a temporary suspension of fees triggered by a technical error during a previous update to parking arrangements earlier this spring.
Motorists will see tariffs revert to the exact rates in place prior to 1 April. The council suspended collections to prevent further overcharging after residents reported discrepancies in the automated payment systems across the region’s car parks.
Parking schedule and weekend exemptions
While standard fees return, specific exemptions remain part of the local transport strategy to support high street footfall. Drivers should note that the upcoming Bank Holiday on Monday, 4 May, will remain free of charge. Additionally, the existing policy of providing two hours of free parking on both Saturdays and Sundays continues at all council-run sites.
| Date or Day | Parking Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Friday, 1 May | Standard tariffs resume |
| Monday, 4 May | Free parking (Bank Holiday) |
| Saturdays | Two hours free parking |
| Sundays | Two hours free parking |
Motorists using both off-street car parks and on-street bays are urged to verify local signage before payment. The council has updated physical machines and digital payment apps to reflect the corrected 1 May restart date.
Refund process for April overcharges
Officials are currently finalizing a mechanism to reimburse drivers who were incorrectly charged throughout April. The error, which led to the temporary suspension of fees, resulted in several weeks of inconsistent billing for regular commuters and visitors.
Details on how to claim these refunds are expected to be released via the council’s digital portals in the coming days. Impacted residents are advised to keep any digital receipts or bank statements related to parking payments made between 1 April and the suspension date to expedite their future claims.
Source: West Northamptonshire Council
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