The Free Parking Deal: Two Hours' Free Parking in Bedford Town Centre on Saturdays

In the face of the unprecedented cuts to local government funding in recent years, we have rejected the approach seen in a number of other areas of passing on the impact of this to hard-pressed local households via spiralling council tax or hikes in fees and charges. That's why alongside three straight years of average Council tax freezes, shoppers' car park charges have been frozen, in stark contrast to the situation elsewhere nearby and across the country. This has been extremely tough to deliver, with extra savings to be found elsewhere, but we've done it because we are committed to supporting town centre businesses and shoppers. Now we want to go further in this aim. So, starting before Christmas this year, I plan to bring in free parking in all town centre car parks on Saturdays for the first two hours of your stay.

We are making this move in support of town centre businesses in order to issue a rallying cry for people to come and support and enjoy the wide range of excellent independent shops, national chains and opportunities for eating, drinking and leisure in their town centre. We also hope that that free Saturday parking will help make the difference when people from further afield are deciding where to go on a Saturday for shopping and leisure.

A recent report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and The Local Data Company revealed that town centre stores are shutting at a rate of eighteen per day across Britain, with the UK's High Streets facing multiple challenges including difficult economic conditions and the trends towards out-of-town and internet shopping. While we face those same challenges here, Bedford is bucking the trend with rising footfall and falling shop vacancy rates. I believe we have a great opportunity now as a town to build on this progress, and I hope the Free Parking Deal will help us do that.

Under the scheme, all Council-run town centre car parks will be free every Saturday for the first two hours, after which normal charges will apply. So, essentially, the clock starts after two hours, and however long you stay for, those first two hours are free. We will be introducing this in the midst of a major programme of investment and improvement in parking facilities, all of which are designed to make it easier and more convenient to park in Bedford, as well as cheaper.

This programme of improvements includes the building of two new public surface car parks at Prebend Street and the bus station area, the refurbishment of Allhallows (bus station) Multi-Storey car park including brand new toilets and the introduction of new technology and payment machines at multi-storeys to make using the car parks as convenient and attractive as possible.

That new technology is 'Automatic Number Plate Recognition', which will do away with tickets and involve you simply punching your car registration into the machine on your return, and paying for what you have used (or paying nothing, if you have been parked for less than two hours on a Saturday). We hope this will help encourage people to take their time and enjoy spending time and money in Bedford, including in the many cafes, restaurants or bars in and around town.

While we have worked extremely hard to ensure we can keep parking charges down, culminating in the Free Parking Deal, I know that parking charges are just one factor amongst many which contribute to encouraging people to visit a town centre, particularly in the face of the challenges presented by out-of-town and internet shopping. As I have said and written countless times before, Bedford town centre has to be an attractive destination in itself, and offer not just good quality retail and the excellent array of independent shops we have, but also encourage people into town for a range of other reasons. So our efforts in this respect continue, with the recent completion of the £6 million cultural attraction The Higgins Bedford, the forthcoming reintroduction of town centre cinema to Bedford along with new riverside restaurants and public space to enjoy, a brand new bus station and regenerated bus station area, an ongoing heritage-based regeneration scheme for the High Street and a series of popular events amongst a range of other activities and initiatives.

Retailers and indeed all traders themselves have their role to play in ensuring that Bedford is an attractive place to visit, and both those with a longstanding presence in town and new investors are doing so week-in, week-out. The mention of events above also brings to mind the fantastic recent Big Bedford High Street Showcase and other town centre events on the weekend of the 27th and 28th July, which served as just one reminder of the power of people who take pride in their town and of the difference they can make. The range of individuals, community groups, performers, charities, businesses and others who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to helping to create something for everyone to enjoy showed just how much people care about their town and take pride in it. I know I do, and I want us all to work together to use the Free Parking Deal and every other opportunity we have to promote our town and help make Bedford town centre a vibrant, thriving, enjoyable town centre for everyone.

I am also able to confirm that we are finalising details of further parking initiatives to support shoppers and town centre businesses, including additional late openings to boost the night-time economy. I will obviously write with news of these here on www.mayordave.org.uk, later in the week.