Councillors call for free parking for all at Central Milton Keynes for the next six weeks

The councillors, with support from local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart, have made the call on the day retail shops have started to open up.

They say free parking will help boost visitor numbers and give retail businesses a fighting chance of recovery.

A petition will be launched which will be handed in to the Labour-led Milton Keynes Council.

Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Alex Walker, said Covid-19 footfall across Xscape, Intu and Centre:MK was dropping even before the coronavirus crisis.

Over the four years it has dropped by eight million people - and the cost of parking being cited as a major factor, he said.

Alex added: “This is a critical time. If CMK can’t attract shoppers back it will do huge damage to our economy. The council needs to use all the levers it has to support businesses. Offering free parking is one way it can do that.

“We are aware of the hit to council parking revenue, but frankly if CMK doesn’t get itself back on its feet we will lose businesses and jobs.”

Currently MK Council is offering free parking at the city centre for all key workers, but other visitors have to pay.

The free key worker parking scheme was recently extended until July 1.

A spokesman said: "The council believes that an additional two weeks of free parking for key workers will help boost the hard-hit retail sector when it emerges from lockdown without putting people at risk."

After July 1 the council will introduce a reduced cost permit for NHS and care workers.

"Normal enforcement will also resume on July 1. The council have recently been operating a more light- touch approach during the pandemic, with people who are not key workers being asked to continue to pay," said the spokesman.

The council is currently losing around £1m a month in parking income due to the pandemic and has written to the government stating that unless additional financial help is provided, continued losses will be unsustainable without major cuts to services.

Cllr Carole Baume, Cabinet Member for economy and culture said: “MK Council has provided free parking for key workers since March and we’re pleased to be able to extend this until the end of the month.Our key workers have been on the frontline over the last 3 months. As a council we’re keen to continue to support them whilst also supporting businesses and retailers as we enter the next."