90 Minutes Free Parking Campaign Gains Momentum Across England

Could 90 Minutes of Free Parking Help Britain's High Streets?

90 minutes free parking campaign gathers momentum as high streets face parking debate A growing campaign for 90 minutes of free parking on England’s high streets is putting parking charges back at the centre of the debate over how to bring shoppers into town and city centres. A parliamentary petition backed by Spring Fair and Autumn Fair is calling for a national minimum of 90 minutes’ free parking in town and city centres across England, with campaigners arguing that parking should be treated as part of the wider high-street strategy. The campaign has gained fresh attention after fashion designer Jeff Banks CBE publicly backed the petition and discussed the issue on Good Morning Britain, giving the parking debate wider national exposure. Why are campaigners calling for 90 minutes? The argument behind the campaign is straightforward: drivers need enough time to park, visit several businesses and spend time in a town centre without feeling pressured by an approaching parking charge. Campaigners say 90 minutes could be enough to turn a quick stop into a proper high-street visit, potentially giving shoppers time to browse independent shops, have a coffee or visit more than one business. Their case is supported by the latest Voices of Retail research, produced by Spring Fair and Faire after surveying more than 2,000 UK consumers and 650 independent retailers. The research found that 63% of consumers said free parking would encourage them to visit their local high street more often. Among independent retailers, 38% said free parking would have the biggest positive impact on their business, putting it ahead of other local interventions highlighted in the research. Those figures have given campaigners a strong argument that parking is not simply a transport issue. They say the availability and cost of parking can influence whether people decide to visit a high street in the first place. Jeff Banks backs the parking campaign Jeff Banks has signed the petition and urged shoppers to support the call for a national free parking standard. The campaign argues that high streets work best when they are busy and easy to access, with independent businesses benefiting from people spending more time in local areas. Spring Fair portfolio director Jackson Szabo has also described the current situation as a “parking postcode lottery”, with the amount of free parking available varying between different areas. The petition is aiming for 100,000 signatures by 23 January 2027. Reaching that figure would mean the petition can be considered for debate in Parliament. Could free parking help Britain's high streets? The campaign comes at a time when parking charges are already becoming a major issue for councils, shoppers and local businesses across the country. Recent parking debates have seen councils consider higher charges, new charging arrangements and changes to existing parking provision, while traders in some areas have warned that the cost or availability of parking can affect customer numbers. The 90-minute proposal is therefore likely to attract attention from drivers as well as retailers because it raises a much bigger question: how should town-centre parking be used to balance the needs of motorists, businesses and local authorities? Campaign supporters argue that giving drivers a guaranteed period of free parking could make high streets easier to visit, particularly for people making shorter shopping trips. However, introducing a national minimum would also represent a significant change to the way many local authorities manage their car parks and parking income. The petition is a call for government action rather than a change that has already been agreed. For drivers, the campaign is one to watch because it could keep parking charges and free parking firmly on the political agenda over the coming months. With the petition still open and the campaign receiving national attention, the debate over whether 90 minutes of free parking could help revive Britain's high streets is unlikely to disappear quickly.