Update – Future management of Brook End Car Park
Update – Future management of Brook End Car Park 8th May 2026
The original news item posted on the 6th May 2026 is below.
Firstly, we are disappointed to report that following an incident on the 7th May we have been in contact with Bedfordshire Police. We remind Don’t take it out on our staff, town councillors or volunteers. Our staff and volunteers have a right to work in a safe environment and are here to help you. We will NOT tolerate harassment, violence, physical aggression or verbal abuse towards our staff and volunteers. Potton Town Council reserves the right to take further action against anyone acting inappropriately towards members of its staff and volunteers.
The town council has noted the comments on the various Facebook channels (e.g. Cllr Adam Zerny and We Love Potton!).
We are aware that Cllr Zerny mentioned in his Facebook post provisional charges to park in the car park. The charges mentioned by Cllr Zerny are provisional, though at this stage the charges have not yet been agreed, the only thing that has been agreed is that that car parking charges are needed in the Brook End Car Park. At this stage the implementation of car park charging is on hold. The town council is not wanting to make a massive profit from car park charges, though the council would like to cover some of the costs it incurs in providing the car park. Like previously mentioned the town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move.
The town council is exploring about having a car park permit scheme so that local residents and people who work in local businesses can purchase a yearly permit to park in the Brook End Car Park as we are aware that several houses and businesses close to the town centre in for example Brook End, Market Square and Royston Street have no dedicated parking. Though it should be noted if permits are put in place, this will not guarantee a car parking space in the car park.
As a town council we want to be supportive to our residents, local businesses and visitors to the town. The town council is trying to find a solution to the dissatisfaction of car parking as raised in the benchmarking surveys. The town council would welcome any sensible suggestions on how car parking in Brook End Car Park which is managed and maintained by the town council and also in the rest of town centre – which is not managed or maintained by the town council – could be improved. Please send your sensible suggestions on how car parking in Brook End Car Park and the rest of town centre could be improved to the Town Clerk enquiries@pottontowncouncil.gov.uk
One solution would be build another car park, though as far as we are aware no land is currently for sale especially close to the town centre. If land was for sale, in addition to the cost to purchase the land there would also be the cost to construct the car park. If you own any land close to the town centre, and would be willing to sell the land to the council for a car park, please contact the Town Clerk enquiries@pottontowncouncil.gov.uk
The town council is always delighted to welcome members of the public to its council meetings and the next meeting is scheduled for the 23rd June.
Original news item posted on the 6th May 2026 below
The Future management of Brook End Car Park was an item on the Annual Town Council meeting agenda on the 5th May 2026.
Brook End car park is owned by the Town Council, who are responsible for its management and maintenance. Following a Town Benchmarking survey in 2017 which was carried out to provide evidence for the Potton Neighbourhood Plan, the need for additional parking in the town to support our key services and shops was identified. Parking was seen as the largest single factor likely to deter people from using local shops and services. The town council therefore proposed the extension of the car park given that space and land is at a premium in the centre of town. We hoped the extension, which was completed in 2019 and cost nearly £100,000, would alleviate parking issues and make it easier for people to access the shops and the local surgery.
Central Bedfordshire Council with the assistance of the town council have arranged for three further benchmarking surveys and these have been undertaken in Potton in 2019, 2022 and 2025. Again car parking was identified as the biggest negative. The town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move. It should be noted that there is no guarantee of parking in any car park, particularly when free of charge.
The town council have kept residents and businesses informed and given them the opportunity to engage with the town council.
The town council included in the February 2025 edition of the town council newsletter an article about Brook End Car Park A copy of the newsletter is either hand delivered or royal mailed to every household and business in the town, with copies available to collect from the town council office and the library and is added to the town council website. The article mentioned ‘At the meeting of the town council in March 2025, the charging and enforcing of Brook End Car Park will be considered. Potton Town Council (PTC) currently operates the free to use Brook End car park despite Central Bedfordshire Council charging the town council over £4,000 per year in rates.’
Included on page 24 of the December 2025 benchmarking survey
WHAT TWO SUGGESTIONS WOULD YOU MAKE TO IMPROVE POTTON TOWN CENTRE? Improvements to ‘Car Parking’ was the key them to emerge with three categories. ‘More Parking’, ‘Parking Enforcement’ and issues surrounding ‘Electronic Car Charging Points’.
The town council included in the February 2026 edition of the town council newsletter an article ‘What do you think about Potton?’ following a further Benchmarking of the town The benchmarking survey included car parking – dissatisfaction has increased from 44% in 2019 to 72% in 2025 and is now the biggest negative issue. Like mentioned above a copy of the newsletter is either hand delivered or royal mailed to every household and business in the town, with copies available to collect from the town council office and the library and is added to the town council website.
At the meeting on the 5th May 2026 the town council agreed that car parking charges are needed in the Brook End Car Park. The town council is not wanting to make a massive profit from car park charges, though the council would like to cover some of the costs it incurs in providing the car park. Like mentioned above the town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move.
The town council is aware that Adam Zerny Potton Town Cllr / Central Bedfordshire Ward Cllr for Potton has added a post to his facebook page.