Bedford Borough Council is launching a trial scheme to support local businesses in Bedford Town Centre by offering up to four hours of free parking at Allhallows car park.
Free car parking has been on Mayor Tom Wootton’s list of things to sort since his election in May 2023.
Shoppers visiting Allhallows car park can enjoy up to four hours of free parking starting from Tuesday, August 1, 2023, until Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Councillor Jim Weir: Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Environment, Highways and Transport, said: “We hope this trial will help local Bedford businesses as people can take their time to visit the local shops.
“It is brilliant news for Bedford – a true boost for our town. With this fantastic offer, everyone can easily pop in for a haircut, enjoy a coffee, or visit our library and museums hassle-free.”
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Town Centres and Planning, added: “We are committed to working on a range of innovative projects around the Town Centre which will support local businesses to thrive and prosper.
“We are hoping this trial will prove successful in supporting our local businesses and cultural venues and will measure this to see how it influences shopper behaviour, as well as continuing to consider other ideas to attract more residents to our Town Centre.
“I’m sure people will want to take advantage of this free period and we will be keen to see how results could influence future parking policies.”
For more information about Bedford Borough Council’s car parks, as well as current parking tariffs, visit www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel.
