Council launches temporary scheme to draw people back into the city centre
Peterborough has begun a trial of free off-street parking in an effort to revive its high street after a commitment made by the council leader during the election campaign. The policy, backed in the budget last year, carries a clear financial cost to the authority but is presented as a measure to support local businesses and evening economy activity.
The scheme stems from a pledge by the council leader, a member of the Conservative party, who set aside £1.5m in the budget to fund free parking across both Peterborough and neighbouring Huntingdonshire. The trial applies to the 11 off-street car parks operated by Peterborough City Council, most of which currently charge between 07:00 and 20:00.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Number of council off-street car parks | 11 |
| Annual parking income (approx.) | £2.7m |
| Estimated annual loss from free parking | Nearly £550,000 |
| Budget commitment to free parking | £1.5m |
The council has estimated that removing charges could reduce revenue by nearly £550,000 a year. That loss would be met from the one-off budget provision while the trial runs, although councillors were told the continuation of other transport projects would not be abandoned.
"The city centre needs a lift," the council leader said, adding: "a busier high street and more people choosing to come into the city for an evening out will be great for local businesses and great for the local economy."
Support from opposition, and questions on wider transport policy
The leader of the city council’s Labour group, Shabina Qayyum, welcomed the initiative but also emphasised the need to sustain investment in greener travel options. At a council meeting last month she said that assurance was given that investment will continue in schemes which promote active travel.
Councillors in neighbouring Huntingdonshire have also been discussing a similar scheme, reflecting a regional interest in how free parking might influence shopping patterns and leisure visits after 5pm.
- Local economy: The stated aim is to increase footfall and support shops, restaurants and evening businesses in the city centre.
- Council finances: The removal of parking charges will reduce an income stream that contributes roughly £2.7m a year.
- Transport priorities: Labour councillors have sought reassurance that the move will not divert funding from schemes promoting walking, cycling and other active travel.
The trial opens up several practical and political questions for Peterborough residents. How will evening and daytime visitor numbers change? Will additional footfall translate into higher spending in the city centre? And what will be the medium-term balance between lost parking income and any economic gains?
For a city with both suburban and rural communities within its bounds, the answer may be mixed. Free parking can be a straightforward inducement to drive into town, particularly for those without easy public-transport links. At the same time, councillors must weigh that convenience against longer-term ambitions to reduce car dependency and invest in cycling, walking and public transport.
The council’s figures provide a clear snapshot of the immediate financial implication, but it will be the pattern of visits and spend by shoppers and evening visitors that determines whether the scheme achieves its goal of giving the high street a lift. Observers and local traders will be watching closely as data from the trial begins to emerge.
Further discussions in Huntingdonshire indicate the idea has traction beyond Peterborough. For now, the trial represents a tactical attempt by the council to stimulate the local economy while balancing competing transport and fiscal priorities.
