Free parking has been
confirmed for Peterborough from August
3 after Peterborough City Council's
cabinet yesterday (July
21) accepted grant
funding from the Combined
Authority to deliver free parking
in four council-owned car parks from
3pm.
Bishops Road, Car Haven, Riverside and
Pleasure Fair Meadow car parks will all be covered by the scheme,
between Monday to Friday, as part of a time-limited
trial.
The scheme was pledged by Mayor of
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, in his
manifesto, as part of his wider ambition to regenerate
Peterborough city centre and support the high
street.
Free parking aims to bring in more
footfall to support local businesses and the health and vibrancy
of the evening economy. The impact of free parking will
be monitored to assess its
impacts.
£891,667 of
the total Mayor's budget set aside for free
parking will enable the scheme to run until the end of March
2028.
This scheme aims to support the evening
economy, attract more visitors, support city centre businesses
and attractions, and help local traders compete with out-of-town
and online retailers.
said: "Free parking is
happening this summer, and it's
part of my work to
regenerate and revive our city
centre.
"The city centre needs a lift,
and increased footfall, a busier high street and more
people choosing to come into the city for an evening
out will be great for local businesses and
great for the local economy.
"Peterborough has a lot of potential,
and free parking is one step towards getting
our city thriving."
Councillor Shabina Qayyum,
Leader of Peterborough City Council,
said: "Peterborough
city centre has so much to offer in terms of shopping, places to
eat and drink, visitor attractions such as our fantastic
Cathedral, Museum, Key Theatre, and Lido. This free parking offer
should encourage more people to see what our city has to
offer.
"At the Cabinet meeting where members
approved acceptance of this funding concerns were raised about
the impact of this scheme on people using more environmentally
friendly forms of transport and assurance was given that
investment will continue in schemes which promote active
travel."
