Council considers free parking in town
Mark Cordell (Bid4Bury chief executive) is looking to get free parking after 3pm on Tuesdays to encourage shoppers into town
Free parking could soon be introduced in Bury St Edmunds town centre.
The proposal, on which St Edmundsbury Borough Council is due to make a decision on Tuesday, would see free or subsidised parking in the town once a week.
Last Thursday, at the council’s annual business ratepayers meeting, Cllr John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury, said the council was considering which day would work best - Tuesdays or Thursdays.
He said the proposal was being considered as a way to attract more people to the town.
“We want to make sure Bury remains an attractive place, not just to work and shop, but to visit places like the Abbey Gardens,” he said.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of town centre improvement organisation Bid4Bury, had previously suggested a ‘free from three’ parking scheme be introduced on Tuesdays, a day his business members say is often their quietest.
He said: “I’m delighted that it seems like the council are looking to help out the businesses in the town by introducing some free parking.
“This gesture will be greatly appreciated by businesses during such a difficult trading period and gives everyone an opportunity to get more people into our lovely town.”
If introduced, he said he hoped it would apply to all of the town’s car parks, to ensure the scheme was ‘clear, uncomplicated and user-friendly for consumers’.
He added: “If this happens, I’d be looking for our businesses to provide a variety of incentives to get more people into the town.”
St Edmundsbury Borough Council was unable to release any further details of the proposal this week.
A spokeswoman said: “Naturally any free parking affects the overall budget, and therefore the decision to go ahead depends on budget adoption at full council next week, so we will not discuss any detail until the budget is approved.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- New mayor drives through Tesco’s doors
- Leading role given to ‘trailblazing’ schools
- Old friends form new group with man who toured in hit band
- World’s first professor of networking to speak at West Suffolk College business breakfast
- Future of HMV in Bury St Edmunds is secured after business is sold by administrators
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North west
