Parking charges at city centre should be waived over Christmas to boost local shops, say Milton Keynes Conservatives

They are asking the Labour-led council to scrap all parking charges December.

The campaign, backed by local MPs and councillors, aims to help attract shoppers back to the city centre as MK’s economy begins to recover from a second national lockdown.

Since June, local Conservatives have led a free parking campaign for CMK and started a petition that attracted over 1000 signatures. They believe that the offer of free parking would encourage shoppers back to CMK to boost business. However, the Labour-led Council and their partners, the Liberal Democrats, have both rejected the idea saying it was “old-fashioned.”

Before the Covid-19 crisis, footfall across Xscape, Intu and Centre:MK had dropped by eight million people over the past four years with the cost of parking being cited as a major factor. It was also revealed in August that footfall at CMK was 30 per cent lower in comparison to 2019.

Many councils across the country are already taking the initiative and are inviting residents to park for free in a bid to give businesses a fighting chance at recovery in the run-up to the festive period.

Scarborough Council, Blaby Council in Leicester, Sedgemoor Council and others such as Copeland, Rother, New Forest and Maidenhead and Windsor have all begun promoting free parking schemes up to Christmas in order to boost their local economies.

The AA has shown their support for free parking initiatives with their President, Edmund King, saying that free parking was needed “now more than ever.”

He said: “Free parking periods at Christmas have been used in the past by councils and shopping centres to tempt customers into the high streets and shopping centres.

“The AA believes that, now more than ever, the hours and free parking locations should be extended.”

Leader of the MK Conservative group, Cllr Alex Walker, said: “Now, more than ever, our local businesses need support from the council.

“With many businesses reopening their doors following a second national lockdown, we need to provide extra opportunities for residents and visitors to be able to shop safely and locally to allow our businesses a chance at recovery.

“Whether it be going out for a family meal, going Christmas shopping, or just enjoying a coffee, we’re urging you to wear your mask, socially distance where appropriate and get MK’s businesses bouncing back.”