Parking Crackdown Coming to St Neots as Civil Enforcement Gets the Green Light

Parking enforcement in St Neots is set for a major shake-up after the Government confirmed that Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) will come into force across Huntingdonshire from 28th July 2025.

In a letter released this week, Lillian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, confirmed that she has signed the necessary order to hand over parking powers to Cambridgeshire County Council, meaning enforcement will become the responsibility of local authorities — not the police. The order is due to be laid before Parliament today (3rd July).

The change has been welcomed by disability campaigners, local businesses and councillors, all of whom have expressed growing frustration over poor parking and a lack of regulation in St Neots town centre, particularly since the renovation of the Market Square.

Calls for Action After Ongoing Issues

Since the completion of the Market Square works, a number of concerns have been raised around the removal of loading bays and the impact on nearby businesses.

One business at the centre of the debate is Floored by Ian, who say they’ve faced backlash from residents — and even a visit from local police — over parking near their shop to unload goods. In response, they launched a petition calling for the return of loading bays, arguing that without them, it's impossible to trade fairly and safely.

Ian McLachlan, owner of the flooring business, told Black Cat Radio:
"Hopefully this will mean no more parking on corners so lorries won’t get stuck and traffic will flow.”

Accessibility Concerns from Blue Badge Holders

Local campaigner Liz Owen, who has long spoken out about the lack of access for disabled residents in the town centre, welcomed the news as a long-overdue win.

“I'm super happy and very surprised they've brought it forward! A win for us Blue Badge holders who just want to come and enjoy St Neots, but struggled before now because of the drivers who took advantage of the lack of enforcement."

She has previously raised concerns about dropped kerbs being blocked, disabled bays being misused, and the lack of visible enforcement, particularly during busy market days.

Enforcement Powers Handed to Local Council

From 28th July, Huntingdonshire will officially become both a Civil Enforcement Area and a Special Enforcement Area, meaning the council will be able to issue fines for offences such as parking on double yellow lines, double parking, and blocking footpaths or dropped curbs.

Local councillor and former town mayor Stephen Ferguson welcomed the development, saying:

“I am delighted that the anxiously awaited Civil Parking Enforcement will be in place from July 28th, allowing HDC to appoint traffic wardens, and remove the burden on enforcement from the police. Hopefully this will quickly solve the problem of anti-social and illegal parking that has blighted St Neots for too long.”

Just this week, a local community police officer told Black Cat Radio that enforcement powers being passed to local councils was “exactly what’s needed” and that police would welcome the change.

What Happens Next?

Once in force, Cambridgeshire County Council and Huntingdonshire District Council will be responsible for appointing and managing enforcement officers, and any fines collected will be retained locally — with the intention of supporting better traffic and access management across the district.

The full enforcement rollout is expected to take effect across all of Huntingdonshire, with only a few exceptions listed in the official order.