Cuts to free parking 'will impact trade'

The "Free After Three" scheme is being scaled back from January

Cuts to the amount of free parking available in Sunderland city centre after 15:00 will have a major impact on trade, a business owner has warned.

Spaces offered through the city's "Free After Three" parking scheme will be slashed from January.

Gerard Purvis, who owns streetwear store Port Independent, said: "It just feels like another hurdle to overcome and I think it definitely will impact trade."

But a Sunderland councillor said investment and developments are adding to the city's appeal.

"Free After Three has been running since 2013 and has allowed free parking in several car parks in the city centre between 15:00 and midnight.

From January, the will end in car parks including St Mary's and Sunniside, which together can accommodate over 1,000 cars.

It will leave about 250 spaces which can found at street level on Tatham Street, Nile Street, West Wear Street, Charles Street and Gorse Road.

Mr Purvis said the changes will make it harder to attract customers to the town centre.

"We're struggling for what our unique selling point is over the likes of the Metro Centre, where there is free parking and there's a lot more choice [of shops]," he said.

"Bricks and mortar shops are already struggling to compete online when you have next-day delivery and so the only thing that you have to compete with is the convenience of free parking."

Sunderland city councillor Kevin Johnston said: "This council continues to support and invest in our city centre as more people come to work and live around Riverside Sunderland.

"Work on new developments such as the Culture House and Eye Infirmary are under way, we have a new railway station and all this is alongside new shops, pubs, clubs and hotels."