CALL FOR FREE EVENING PARKING IN CITY CENTRE

Move would be ‘shot in the arm’ for shops

COULD free parking in Coventry provide a much needed shot in the arm for the beleaguered retail sector and dispel fears the city centre risks becoming a “ghost town”?

A call for free evening parking in the city centre is set to be discussed by councillors tonight.

On-street parking is already free after 6pm in the city centre but Tuesday’s meeting of the full council will see a call for this to be widened.

While there is no set proposal, ideas being put forward will include trialling a system of free car parking across municipal car parks in the city centre.

This could be on a set day each week, or an extension of the scheme which currently offers free parking in the run-up to Christmas.

The aim of the proposal is to offer a boost to city centre retailers.

Currently the idea is a loose one rather than specific, calling upon the city council’s cabinet to “consider free evening parking on a regular basis”.

It is being proposed by the opposition Conservative group and prompted by what it has described as “the difficulties facing the retail sector in the city centre”.

The Conservatives have pointed to council figures which revealed that in the second quarter of 2018 there were 54 empty retail units of empty units in the city centre .

Also figures which revealed car park use at the end of December was down by 0.5 per cent and use of on-street parking bays down by 4.2 per cent.

Looking at the wider retail picture the sector continues to face a huge challenge from the rise of internet retailing and out of town shopping centres. A number of familiar high street names have gone to the wall, such as BHS and House of Fraser, with others complaining of tough trading conditions.

Conservative shadow cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, Cllr Gary Crookes, who is presenting the proposal to the full council, said: “We don’t want the city centre to become a ghost town.

“The Government is making a huge investment in our city centre and these are exciting times. However, there’s an uncertain outlook for the high street at the moment and we’ve got to give retailers a helping hand.

“By offering free parking on a trial basis we can encourage more shoppers to visit the city centre and learn from the experience. “If it’s successful it could then be rolled out on a more permanent basis.”

Cllr Crookes said the proposal would involve changes in the retail sector when it came to offering late night opening. “We are putting it forward as an opportunity,” he added. “We are not saying it’s the be all and end all by itself.

“We want retail outlets to look at this and see if they can make use of it.”

Cllr Crookes’ proposal is being backed by former Coventry shopkeeper Cllr Marcus Lapsa, who said: “Free parking on its own won’t resolve the problems on the high street – there’s a much bigger discussion to be had about how our cities will look in the future.

“However we must do everything we can to support retailers in the city centre. If those shops thrive it’s great for residents and they’ll pay back more to the council in business rates in the end.”

By offering free parking on a trial basis we can encourage more shoppers to visit the city centre. Cllr Gary Crookes