Free parking in city could be in place from August

Free parking in some city centre car parks could be introduced on the 3 August if councillors vote in favour of the plan.

The scheme, which will go before councillors on Peterborough City Council next month, would mean parking would be free in the city after 15:00 from Monday to Friday in Bishops Road, Car Haven, Riverside and Pleasure Fair Meadow car parks.

It is being funded by Paul Bristow, the Conservative Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's Combined Authority (CPCA) mayor, after he pledged to introduce the policy during his election campaign.

Last year he committed £1.5m in his budget to bring free parking to both Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.

The CPCA said the scheme would run on a "time-limited trial" and its impact on the town centre would be assessed.

"I said I would bring free parking and it's happening this summer," said Bristow.

"I made this pledge because I believe our city centre needs a lift. Free parking after 15:00 means more people choosing to come into the city for an evening out, to shop, to eat and to support the businesses that make Peterborough worth visiting."

Shabina Qayyum, the Labour leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "Subject to cabinet approval in July, it is great that the free parking will be in place from 3 August in time for people to enjoy what our city has to offer during the school summer holidays.

"We would have wanted it to start sooner however we must build in time to complete the statutory traffic management orders.

"The combined authority team and the council are both content for this to be the start date."

The CPCA said it was also working on plans for a free parking scheme in Huntingdonshire.

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