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BRITISH RAIL - CAR PARKING IN DIGSWELL

In 1982, British Rail, as it then was, was under strong pressure from the Government to sell surplus land. The disused goods-yards and sidings around Knebworth and Welwyn North stations were therefore earmarked for sale. At Knebworth, the sale did go through, and the tall block of flats by the station shows the site.

Welwyn Parish Council was not taking this lying down, because, even then, Digswell had a commuter parking problem. The Council led a complex and fraught five-sided negotiation over several years, whereby it was eventually agreed to convert the disused land into car parking. 

Welwyn Parish Council (and other local authorities) shared the cost, the Police agreed to support parking restrictions to help fill the extended car park, and BR lowered the car park charges for a period of years.

 True, this achievement is now being overtaken by a further surge in commuter parking in Digswell, but the Parish Council's initiative remains a positive benefit to the community.

NEW PARKSIDE DEVELOPMENT

When the “Parkside” development was planned in Welwyn, the sole access to the new houses was to be off the "Roman Baths" roundabout. 

Welwyn Parish Council considered this to be appalling, cutting off the new residents from the centre of their village. It insisted there should be access from Parkside direct into the centre of Welwyn, and the footway from Parkside to Mill Lane and the Civic Centre is entirely due the Parish Council's intervention.