District council to trial 30-minute free parking

Car parks across the Rochford area will try out a scheme where drivers can park for free for up to 30 minutes

Drivers will be able to park for free for up to 30 minutes in a council's car parks in a move to support local businesses.

Rochford Council in Essex has agreed to try out the free parking scheme at most of its 11 car parks for the next three months "to help boost footfall".

The council's leader, Conservative Danielle Belton, said the decision was something requested by business and residents "for a number of years".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a meeting of the council's economic development, regeneration, and tourism committee heard the trial could cost the authority up to £42,000 for the three month period.

Belton said it could also help with parking issues around schools, as parents could use short-term free spaces at drop off and pick up times.

According to council documents, the cost of a 30-minute stay in most surface car parks in the district was reduced last year from 70p to 55p in an effort to stimulate activity on the high streets.

Belton said: "Ultimately, the council is dedicated to supporting our local businesses and especially the town centres, and it's a documented fact in other towns that short stay parking can help boost footfall.

She added the council had built up more money from the car parks than it had spent, meaning it now had reserves to implement the new policy.

"The end goal is we see a better footfall in the town, which then creates more of a drive for other businesses to consider coming here, if they see we've offerings where people can pop into town, grab a coffee, grab a takeaway, do some errands, whatever it may be."

The free parking will not apply to The Approach near Rayleigh Train Station and Hockley Woods Car Park.