Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, was joined by County Councillor Steve Holmes, Borough Councillor Rob Wright and Dacorum Chief Executive Daniel Zammit at a meeting with senior Hertfordshire Highways engineers at the High Street in the Old Town on Friday (16th Jan) to press the case for a one-way scheme.
Mike said:
"A one-way system would enable the creation of parking spaces nearly the full length of the High Street as well as the inclusion of a much-needed taxi rank. Local businesses are feeling the pinch and this is a low-cost, easy to set up solution which could regenerate the area.
"Many of these businesses depend on customers being able to drop-in. If customers could park right outside it would be an enormous benefit and offer these businesses a real boost.
"The Old Town has so much potential and is a real asset. It is absolutely vital that we help these businesses and this community."
Borough Councillor, Rob Wright, strongly supports the proposal and said:
“The scheme will provide a much needed boost to the economy of the Old High Street, what is proposed will go a long way to adding vitality to one of our towns greatest assets.”
C/Cllr Steve Holmes, who owned a shop in the Old Town for many years, said: "A breath of fresh air for traders and the beginnings of a regeneration of the Old Town. Anything the Borough and County Councils can do to increase footfall and pull us through the recession is more than welcome".
The project is already on Herts Highways "to do" list and Mike Penning called on them to make it a top priority and expedite the necessary consultations and legal notifications as soon as possible.
He vowed:
"I believe there’s a chance to get this moving forward. I won’t give up on this one. It is a simple solution and I will keep pressing to get it done. I will not allow bureaucracy to delay this." | 
