Tepid reaction to free parking
Windsor: Opposition calls for more days to be included
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The council has announced its free parking offer over the Christmas period. The announcement didn't go down well with everyone.
The council’s free car parking offer over the Christmas period has been described as not generous enough by an opposition councillor.
The Royal Borough announced last week that free parking would be offered in both Windsor and Maidenhead town centre car parks from 3pm on Wednesdays leading up to Christmas – December 9, 16 and 23.
Windsor will also offer free parking on three Sundays ahead of the festive season – December 6, 13 and 20, with Maidenhead already free on this day. River Street in Windsor is excluded.
The council traditionally offers free parking on Saturdays ahead of the Christmas period, with other towns advertising this again.
Councillor David Cannon, the council’s lead member for parking, told a cabinet meeting last week that the move would ‘bring some Christmas cheer’ and help boost trade for struggling businesses.
He also claimed that Wednesdays and Sundays were ‘quiet days’ in the borough, as opposed to Saturdays – which he said is already busy with shoppers.
“These being quiet days, we hope to drive footfall and shoppers to support businesses. That should be good news,” Cllr Cannon said at the meeting on November 26.
The move was also praised by council leader Cllr Andrew Johnson (Con, Hurley and Walthams) who described it as ‘welcome news’ in what will ‘undoubtedly be a difficult time’ for firms.
But following the meeting, the offer has sparked anger and concern.
Speaking to the Express Cllr Wisdom Da Costa (WWRA, Clewer and Dedworth West) said it was ‘Scrooge-like’ from the council.
He said: “It’s not enough, businesses need a lot of help and support.
“The council should have given lots of days including Saturdays where people could go into the shops and socially distance.
“They’re not going to gain anything in parking because people are not going to do it, they won’t lose out but businesses may go bust.”
A petition was started by a trader to persuade the council to offer free parking over the Christmas retail period in order to ‘boost Windsor footfall’, which received more than 1,600 signatures.
It is due to be debated at a future council meeting.
The Royal Borough did not respond to a request for comment before going to press.