Car parks free all weekend as Saturday charges axed

An Erewash Borough Council car park (Credit: EBC)

Erewash Borough Council is set to make its car parks free to use on Saturdays – in more good news for residents as it freezes council tax.

The boost for shops and markets is poised to get the go-ahead when the council meets at Long Eaton Town Hall next week (Thursday 5th March). There is already no charge on Sundays – meaning parking will be free for the entire weekend.

Elected members will be asked to approve a budget for the coming year that Leader James Dawson is hailing as a blueprint for helping residents struggling with the cost of living. He and his cabinet put the final touches to it at an llkeston Town hall meeting of what is known as the Council Executive.

Plans include:

• No rise in council tax, garden waste collection charges or any other fees residents pay to the council – while at the same time earmarking another £4.5MILLION towards improving the lives of people in the borough. This will be via the authority’s new Erewash Investment Fund and is on top of some £2million that residents are already benefiting from. It means a total of around £6.5MILLION will have been used to help transform local communities.
• Investment of more than £1million in the borough’s parks and open spaces, including upgrades to paths, lighting and children’s play areas. A survey that was held in the run-up to the council setting its new budget found 90 per cent of residents wanted this.
• Smartening up high streets – with a continued crackdown on shops being left vacant and in disrepair. The survey revealed this was the top concern of residents – with an overwhelming 93 per cent backing it.

In addition there will be new grants for parish initiatives that boost rural communities – while the voluntary sector can expect renewed support.

Cllr Dawson said: “More free parking was something many in our survey wanted to see. Shops and market traders have also called for it as a way to help get our high streets thriving. The waiving of car park charges on Saturdays is part of what is a simple mission by the council – to keep making the borough a better and more affordable place to live.” The car parks will also continue to be free during the whole of December.

Cllr Dawson stressed: “We know times have been tough for our residents. It is why when it comes to council tax we have previously been determined to keep rises below inflation. Now, for the first time in more than a decade, we have been able to go one better by not increasing Erewash’s share of the levy at all.”

It means the £4.24 a week rate for a typical Band D property stays the same. At the same time the fee households pay for fortnightly garden waste collections will not only be frozen in 2026 but next year as well.

Confirmation of this follows the announcement of a £25 early bird offer – the same as last year. Residents have been rushing to bag the deal by signing up before the end of March. It knocks £12 off the full price of £37. People can subscribe online here: Apply for a Garden Waste Subscription | Erewash Borough Council

An official report to the meeting of the Council Executive revealed how the proposed budget will still mean the council remains debt-free with healthy reserves.

This is thanks to the authority’s financial prudence over the past few years plus Erewash now getting a fairer deal when it comes to its funding from central Government.

The report says: “In simple terms, the council has done better than expected.”