Free car park shopping upturn

CAR parking use has increased by 25 per cent since council-owned sites became free to use.

Leader of the opposition. Lib-dem councillor Howard Sykes questioned how much revenue is being lost as a cause of making the car parks free, at a time when the council is facing huge cut backs.

Council leader Jim McMahon explained: “It is a mistake to look at free parking in isolation when considering cut backs.

“It is not the answer to making huge savings and I accept that, and we know some people abuse it.

“In the first week the car parks were made free, the Tommyfield site was taken up by traders.

“You are always going to get a minority of people who see it as an opportunity to do something unhelpful.

“But car parking use is up by 25 per cent, with the average spend in town being £30 a visit.

“This is about sending a message that we are open for business.”