Call for free parking to boost town centre trade

Newtown's council car parks should be made free temporarily to help attract shoppers into the town and to help local businesses.

The call has come from Newtown town councillor Cllr David Selby following the launch of a campaign by Powys County Council to encourage people to shop locally. The #shoplocalpowys campaign was launched by the county council on Monday, the first day that non-essential businesses could open in Wales.

Cllr Selby said: “This, together with measures to make cycling and walking easier and safer in our town are vital to help with revitalising Newtown as the businesses and shops re-open. 

"Parking as been free by default for some time. It would seem to me an unnecessary and unhelpful step to re-introduce charges now."
 
Cllr Selby, as a member of the Welsh Lib Democrats is joining his Group Leader in this campaign.

The Welsh Lib Dem and Green Group Leader on Powys Council, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, has written to the ruling Independent – Conservative Cabinet’s Member for Highways to ask that she brings in free car parking on the council’s car parks to help revive the county’s market town centres after the damage caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus.
 
Commenting, Cllr Gibson-Watt said: “The Council is running a co-ordinated ‘buy local’ campaign and we strongly support that initiative. Our market towns were struggling badly before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and now they need all the help they can get to put them back on their feet.

"Traffic and on-street parking restrictions are going to be needed to ensure people can walk around our town centres observing social distancing to stay safe, which means people will have to use the car parks to visit and shop, even if they are only staying for very short periods.

"It would be a big boost to the retail and commercial businesses in town centres for there to be free parking during this period of revival and I hope the Cabinet can support our request.”