Council set to introduce free parking in afternoon

A council report said concerns had been raised by businesses that some might not be able to "endure the disruption" during the main visitor season

Free parking is set to be introduced in Ashbourne after 14:00 BST in a bid to help businesses survive a summer of roadworks.

Derbyshire Dales District Council, which is responsible for the £15.9 million Ashbourne Reborn regeneration project, is set to approve the proposal at a meeting on Thursday.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said businesses and residents have been lobbying the council for months about the disruption caused by roadworks associated with the project.

A report said officials have recommended charges after 14:00 ought to be scrapped from 28 July until 7 September at the district council's car parks.

This matches the same campaign which the authority rolls out in December to boost Christmas trade, the LDRS said.

The St John Street roadworks are due to end in September while others in Dig Street will now continue into November, the council said.

The authority previously said as part of the multi-million project the works will help to "transform the pedestrian experience" with wider footways and new and improved crossings around the town centre.

A council report said concerns had been raised by businesses that some might not be able to "endure the disruption" during the main visitor season to benefit from the works in the longer term.

It added: "Some business properties have become vacant during the construction period.

"While this is likely to be a result of a complex combination of factors and longer-term issues, anecdotally the works have been cited by business owners as a contributing factor."

'Additional congestion'

According to the council, free parking after 14:00 would cost £25,000, including £22,000 in lost revenue, but would encourage people "to stay longer and spend more" in the town.

The council added that all day free parking had been requested by some businesses and members of the public.

The report said: "However, this would be significantly more costly and could be abused by workers and residents taking up prime parking spaces and leading to car park capacity issues.

"This could also increase the risk of creating additional congestion from visitors circulating to find alternative car parks, adding to disruption, increased journey times and related frustration for residents, businesses and visitors."