Free parking changes to come into effect in June

A free parking initiative is set to launch across three Suffolk towns after councillors approved changes to parking fees. West Suffolk Council’s cabinet unanimously agreed the proposals on Tuesday, with the new measures scheduled to take effect from 15 June. Under the plans, motorists will receive the first hour free in selected car parks in Haverhill and Newmarket. In Bury St Edmunds, free parking will also be available between 08:00 and 10:00 on Mondays at the Parkway multi-storey car park. David Taylor, the council’s cabinet member responsible for operations, said the scheme was intended to boost local high streets. The decision follows a motion put forward by the council’s Conservative Group during February’s budget discussions. Council leader Cliff Waterman said efforts were now focused on implementing the scheme “as quickly as possible”. Waterman had previously criticised the proposal, describing it as “a crackpot idea” due to concerns over its estimated cost of up to £1.2m over two years — concerns shared by other members of the administration. However, speaking after the meeting, Taylor said the authority was committed to making the initiative a success. “We’re going to do everything we can to make it work,” he said. “This is about supporting our high streets and the wider town centres.” New pay-and-display machines are due to be installed by the end of the month to support the changes. The council also launched a consultation last week on the traffic orders required for the scheme, with residents able to submit comments until Thursday 4 June. Once introduced, the council said it would closely monitor the scheme’s impact, including footfall, financial performance and any unintended consequences. Stephen Moody, a retail expert from Bury St Edmunds, told BBC Radio Suffolk that free short-stay parking could significantly benefit smaller towns competing with out-of-town retail parks. “Free parking is absolutely key for smaller towns,” he said. “People are more likely to visit town centres if they can quickly pop in to use the bank, post office or local shops.” However, he warned against offering unrestricted all-day free parking, saying it could lead to overcrowded streets and full car parks. Moody also noted that parking charges remain an important source of revenue for councils and that free parking does not automatically guarantee increased spending on the high street.