Free parking will help stricken high streets
CONSUMERS have taken to online shopping in their millions because of Covid lockdown restrictions and they may need an incentive if they are going to leave their homes and head back to the high street for Christmas shopping. Getting rid of parking charges from the middle of this month onwards could bring the boost needed, according to the AA, which is calling for free Christmas parking from Monday, December 14, to help revive the festive fortunes of beleaguered shops and street traders. Edmund King, the AA’s president, said: “Various parts of the country have ShopLocal campaigns as they are petrified that niche local stores will be put out of business by online retail and lockdowns. “Free parking periods at Christmas have been used in the past by councils and shopping centres to tempt customers into the high streets and shopping centres. “The AA believes that, now more than ever, the hours and free parking locations should be extended. “With fewer shoppers and some avoiding public transport, free parking would also allow better social distancing instead of ticket machines becoming the Achilles heel of attempts to space out and protect visitors.” King is concerned that ticket machines in city centres at this time of year could become a focus of infection as they could be busy, as well as difficult to operate. Motorists can pay for their parking via mobile phone apps but many, particularly the older generation, find them harder to use.
King added: “Ticket machines are becoming more complicated by requiring vehicle registration numbers as well as credit card details. Also, queuing is often a problem as ticket machines are often located where shoppers are squeezed at car park entrances or close to toilets.
“Just as Dickens described in A Christmas Carol, the grim city streets transformed by the Christmas spirit spreading cheer everywhere, let us hope free parking can banish the Scrooge mentality and spread joy to the shopkeepers.”