Bedford to Buck the Trend Again with Another Car Park Charge Freeze in 2012

I'm delighted to report that Wednesday night's Council Executive meeting saw us agree another car parking charge freeze for Bedford town centre in 2012, after we bucked past trends and the rising prices seen in other town centres by freezing the car park charges this year. The current year's car park charge freeze was the first seen in Bedford for many years, and like this new boost for our town centre was delivered despite rising inflation and an extremely tough financial situation facing the Council. Inflation is now of course at nearly 6% and the financial pressures on the Council are unprecedented, but we feel it's important to support shoppers and help boost the vitality of Bedford town centre by proposing a freeze for charges in the council's car parks and for on-street parking.

Parking charges are rising elsewhere across the country, and increasing costs are making the car parks more expensive to run. However, while councils elsewhere are putting charges up due to the difficult financial climate all local authorities are facing, we are instead recognising that local shoppers and the town centre economy need support during these tough economic times. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and so despite rising inflation and the increased costs of running the car parks we are doing everything we can to support retailers and shoppers.

Freezing car park charges is about helping make the town centre as vibrant and attractive as possible, as we continue to encourage people to Buy in Bedford.