Free Car Parking Could Be Coming To Northampton Town Centre!

Issue Date: 07/06/2011

Northampton Borough Council News Release: Free car parking in Northampton town centre

Northampton Borough Council’s new cabinet is expected to approve plans for free car parking in the town centre from October for the benefit of shoppers and retailers at its second meeting next week (16 June). The plans will mean shoppers and visitors will be able to park at St John’s, St Michael’s and the Mayorhold multi-storey car parks for up to an hour for free and the cost of parking for a second hour will be reduced by 25 per cent.   Under the proposals prices in other premier town centre car parks, including the Grosvenor Centre car park, will be also reduced by 25 per cent for the first two hours.  Parking on Sundays will be free in all car parks. On street parking, which is managed by Northamptonshire County Council, cannot be included in the plans as they are outside of the borough council’s control. Councillor Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "Convenient and reasonably priced car parking is key to the town’s future and plays a central role in attracting visitors and improving the local economy. "This is what people told us they wanted to see and these plans will not only see free one hour parking in three of our most popular car parks but also reduced charges at car parks across the board, which can only be welcomed.  The fact that we are introducing this change within just four weeks of taking office shows the importance we attach to the town centre economy.” If cabinet approves the plans the council will begin the process of implementing the changes so that the new prices can come into effect in October in time for Christmas shoppers to take advantage of the new prices.   An evaluation of the scheme is planned for February next year to assess its impact on shoppers and retailers.  Other improvements that include upgrading machines to take payments by card and mobile phone and introducing pay on exit to more car parks may also be brought to cabinet for consideration in the future. Premier car parks are located in the heart of the town centre and as such are the most popular car parks for town centre shoppers.  They are: · Mayorhold multi-storey · St Michael’s multi-storey · St John’s multi-storey · St John’s surface · Grosvenor Centre · Commercial south · St Peter’s · Albion Place · Upper Mounts · Ridings · Commercial Street · Newlands · Wellington Street · Abington Place · Campbell Square