Dereham Car Parks
Who should pay for Dereham’s car parks? Have your say!
Dereham Town Council is inviting residents, businesses and everyone who uses the town’s car parks to help shape how they are funded and maintained.
The Council has taken ownership of the Theatre Street (Cherry Tree), Cowper Road and Old Becclesgate car parks. Running and maintaining them is expected to cost around £150,000 a year, and a new survey asks how these costs should be met fairly while supporting the town centre.
The survey explores a range of options, including parking charges, annual permits for shoppers, workers and residents, funding through Dereham Council Tax, or a combination of charges and Council Tax. People are also being asked whether there should be a short period of free parking and how this would be funded. A one-hour free period would mean other users’ parking charges would need to double, or an additional £60,000 a year would need to come from Dereham Council Tax, according to the Council’s estimates. Other questions cover ways to reduce running costs, opportunities to generate income through solar panel canopies and advertising, and whether the Council should save each year towards future resurfacing or borrow when the work is needed.
Whether you park for a quick shopping trip, work in the town centre, run a local business or live nearby, your views will help the Council understand how people use these car parks and what matters most to them.
The survey is anonymous and closes on 30 November 2026.
Dereham Town Council will use the results to help decide how the three car parks should be paid for.
Additional background information can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Rzvs9EyJQElqjKff0ADqY5bPEaw6x4B/view
Have your say here: www.tinyurl.com/derehamcarparks
Should you require a hard copy of the survey to complete, please contact Dereham Town Council on 01362 693821 or generalenquiries@derehamtowncouncil.org
