90-Minute Free Parking Campaign Launched to Help UK High Streets

New Parking Campaign Calls for 90 Minutes of Free Parking Nationwide

Campaign Calls for 90 Minutes of Free Parking to Revive UK High Streets Shoppers are being urged to support a new parliamentary petition calling for a national 90-minute free parking standard across UK town and city centres. The campaign, launched by retail event organiser Spring & Autumn Fair, argues that making parking free for 90 minutes could encourage more people to visit local high streets and support independent businesses. Campaign targets parking postcode lottery The petition comes after a survey commissioned by Spring & Autumn Fair found that 63% of more than 2,000 UK consumers questioned said free parking would encourage them to visit their local high street more often. The organisation's Voice of Retail report also found that almost four in 10 of the 650 independent retailers surveyed considered free parking the single most important measure councils could introduce to support town centres. Campaign organisers say parking arrangements currently vary significantly between locations, with some towns offering no free parking while others provide only limited free periods. They argue that this creates what they describe as a "parking postcode lottery", with the amount of free parking available depending on where a shopper lives or chooses to visit. Jeff Banks backs the campaign British fashion designer and former Clothes Show presenter Jeff Banks has signed the petition and is encouraging shoppers to support the proposal. Banks said making 90 minutes of free parking available would be a practical measure that could make visiting local high streets easier and help bring shoppers back to local businesses. The campaign's organisers believe the proposed 90-minute period would give shoppers enough time to visit shops and town-centre businesses without immediately facing a parking charge. For motorists, free parking could also remove one of the costs associated with making shorter trips into town centres. What could it mean for parking availability? The proposal is focused on making parking more accessible, but it also highlights a wider issue facing drivers: finding convenient parking close to shops. Where parking is limited or expensive, motorists may choose alternative destinations where parking is easier to find or more affordable. For local authorities, the challenge would be balancing the needs of shoppers and businesses with the wider management of town-centre parking and available road space. The campaign does not mean that a national 90-minute free parking rule has been introduced. It is currently a petition calling on the Government to consider the proposal. Private parking could offer another option While the petition focuses on free parking in town and city centres, private parking spaces can provide another option for motorists who need somewhere convenient to leave their vehicle. Unused driveways, garages and allocated spaces can potentially be made available to drivers through shared parking platforms. For property owners, this creates an opportunity to make use of parking space that might otherwise remain empty, while drivers can gain another choice when public parking is limited. For EveryonesParking, the campaign highlights the importance of giving drivers more choice when it comes to where they park. Whether through council car parks, free parking schemes or privately available spaces, having more convenient parking options can make it easier for motorists to access local destinations. The petition now puts the question of free parking on the national agenda, with campaign organisers arguing that simpler and more consistent parking arrangements could help Britain's high streets attract shoppers.