‘Scrap parking charges after lockdown’
CALL TO ATTRACT SHOPPERS TO TOWN FOR FESTIVE RUN-UP:
A CAMPAIGN has been launched for free parking at council town centre car parks in the countdown to Christmas after the country comes out of the second lockdown.
Tory councillor Becky Brady, who represents Stapenhill on East Staffordshire Borough Council, is calling for “silly” charges to be dropped or reduced to help businesses and residents in the run-up to Christmas.
She wants to see the change implemented at council-run car parks when the country comes out of lockdown on December 2.
She is calling on the council to take action to encourage more people to go into Burton and Uttoxeter town centres to do their Christmas shopping.
This would help businesses that are being forced to close for a month under the new lockdown, she says.
Traders in Burton have already been left devastated by the decision and fear more people will do their shopping online to get their Christmas presents, leaving them without precious festive trade.
Councillor Brady said: “With us going into a second lockdown, when the shops do open up again in December, I’m asking the council to help businesses and shoppers to get them to come into town without the silly car parking charges.
“It’s one less expense and it will get people into the town again for shopping in the run-up to Christmas. I think that people are more likely to use their own cars than public transport at the moment due to Covid so if [parking charges] were relaxed I think it would help more people.
“That’s what I’ve asked the [council’s ruling] cabinet for and will be pushing in the run-up to Christmas.
“I’m pushing for what I want to see the borough council and cabinet do and that’s to think about relaxing the charges at least in the run-up to Christmas.
“I think that people and businesses will need the extra help to get people into town.
“At least they will hopefully have a few weeks left to get their Christmas shopping in. This will hopefully get some people back into the town.”
The council is responsible for car parks including Coopers Square shopping centre in Burton and The Maltings in Uttoxeter.
A spokesman for East Staffordshire Borough Council said: “The council is considering how it can continue to support businesses and our town centres when we emerge from lockdown.”