Renewed call for free city centre parking as data shows shops in Milton Keynes are 'hurting' through lack of spending

New data has revealed footfall at the centre:mk is down by 30 per cent compared to this time last year.

At the same time, figures for the overall spend on retail in Milton Keynes puts the borough in the bottom ten places in the UK.

The figures were revealed today by local Conservatives, who have renewed their call for all parking at CMK to be made free of charge.

They believe the reprieve from costly parking fees would encourage more people back to shop at the city centre.

Cllr Alex Walker, leader of the Conservative group on MK Council, said: Research from Centre for Cities and Springboard have analysed footfall and spend patterns across Milton Keynes and in centre:mk.

Alarmingly, the data from Springboard shows that footfall at CMK is down by 30 per cent on its year-on-year level. This is despite the government’s successful “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme benefitting MK, and there are concerns that the footfall figures may decrease further when the government’s furlough scheme comes to a close."

Cllr Walker added: "The data from Centre for Cities paints a similarly gloomy picture for retail in MK. They use a

spend index that looks at 'relevant offline sales made in the city centre at any time of the day' compared to pre-lockdown.

"The data leaves MK languishing in the bottom ten with a spend index of only 68. This means that customers are spending less money at MK’s shopping centres than before lockdown. In contrast, neighbouring cities such as Luton and Northampton have a spend index rating of 80 and 82 respectively, highlighting a stronger recovery in their local retail sectors."

The Conservatives organised a petition earlier this summer to call on the Labour-run MK Council to embrace free parking. But there has been no change.

"Both the local Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties have rejected this idea," said Cllr Walker.

He added: “Labour and the Liberal Democrats must have their fingers in their ears and blindfolds over their

eyes.

"Milton Keynes is hurting and our retail sector is reeling but they are receiving zero support from their local council to boost footfall and get businesses bouncing back.

"We’re calling on them to embrace free parking at CMK. We need to work together to support our retail sector in bouncing back so that people’s jobs and our local economy are protected.”