Parking to remain free for blue badge holders and Northampton country park visitors

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will not be introducing car parking charges for blue badge holders, nor to Northampton’s country parks, after listening to further public feedback.

01 July 2026

It means that visitors will continue to be able to park for free at Hunsbury Hill Country Park, West Hunsbury Country Park (also known as Ladybridge), the Racecourse, Radlands Skate Park and Bedford Road Picnic area.

WNC will also keep enforcement arrangements unchanged at its Daventry and Towcester car parks, where there is already free parking but motorists continue to face being fined if they overstay or flout restrictions.

Cabinet’s decision not to introduce charges for blue badge holders and Northampton’s parks follows a second round of public consultation that has further shaped the car parking proposals originally set out in the Council’s 2026-27 budget. More than 660 people gave their views during the latest consultation, ahead of WNC finalising the Traffic Regulation Order so that new legislation could be made.

WNC will continue to proceed with plans to revise charges at a number of other car parking locations in Northampton. These are Albion Place, Campbell Square, Midsummer Meadow, The Ridings, St John’s Multi-Storey, Upper Mounts, Wellington Street, Claret car park and Sixfields reservoir. Charges will also be introduced during weekends and bank holidays.

The new charges will take effect from 1 August 2026.

Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: “Listening to our residents and businesses is a top priority for us and this latest consultation was a second opportunity to hear public views to help shape the car parking proposals before being finalised.

“The proposals were always intended to be shaped by further public feedback and from the responses received it was apparent there were concerns around introducing new charges for blue badges holders and at country parks in Northampton area so we have acted upon that. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views with us on these important community issues.”

The latest public engagement on car parking charges follows on from an initial consultation in February this year as part of the Council’s 2026/27 budget proposals which generated over 3,000 responses. After listening to that feedback, Cabinet members decided to keep free parking in Daventry, Brackley and Towcester.

Full information about the finalised parking changes due to be introduced from 1 August will be available shortly on the WNC website car parking pages.