Council reveal cost of work to install and remove ANPR parking infrastructure in Daventry and Towcester that didn’t have permission
Work in two council car parks in Northamptonshire is ongoing to remove ANPR infrastructure which should never have been built in the first place...and now WNC reveals the cost to the taxpayer.
Following the 2026/27 budget – in which a number of controversial changes to car parks across West Northamptonshire were approved – the Reform-led council failed to then activate the paperwork required to be able to legally enforce changes.
Work then began on installing ANPR infrastructure at the Tove car park in Towcester – as well as some minor installations at Primrose Hill in Daventry - which led to people asking what the council were up to.
The proposals came to light at the end of April when the council apologised and said it would carry out the correct paperwork in the form of Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
Work at the car parks - where the council wanted to start charging £5 per hour after the initial three free hours was over – was put on hold while the consultation was carried out.
Following the required formal consultation, WNC then announced yet another U-turn ‘after listening to further feedback’ which will now see free parking remain in Towcester and Daventry – as well as disabled badge holders and visitors to country parks in Northampton.
The Chron asked WNC how much time and money had been spent on starting to install the infrastructure in Daventry and Towcester, as well as minor ground work at Hunsbury Country Park where they had hoped to charged up to £8 per day to visit.
A spokesperson for WNC said: “The total for starting to install the infrastructure for changes in Daventry, Towcester and Hunsbury and for removing the same infrastructure is £7,920.”
When the Chron visited the Tove Car Park in Towcester on Wednesday July 15, all the infrastructure had been removed.
In Daventry, work has now started to also remove the ANPR infrastructure at Primrose Hill.
Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for Daventry, said: “I've already been contacted by residents asking why these works were allowed to begin before the consultation had even finished, only for the infrastructure to now be removed.
"Many are also asking what costs have been incurred.
“I think those are fair questions, so I'll be asking the Reform-led Council for answers and will update residents when I receive a response.”