Free short-stay parking to support high streets and town centres

That this House recognises the vital contribution of high streets and town centres to local economies, employment and community life; notes with concern the challenges facing town centre businesses, including declining footfall, changing consumer habits and competition from out-of-town retail parks where parking is often free; further notes research indicating that 63 per cent of consumers would visit town and city centres more frequently if free parking were available and that 38 per cent of independent retailers identify free parking as the measure that would have the greatest positive impact on their business; also notes the approaches taken by local authorities which have introduced free short-stay parking, including the London Borough of Harrow, where one hour of free parking has been made a permanent feature of its parking policy; believes that reducing the cost of short visits to town centres can form part of wider efforts to increase footfall and support local businesses; further believes that local authorities should be encouraged and supported to consider measures including free short-stay on-street parking, an initial free period in council-owned car parks and targeted free parking at particular times of day; and calls on the Government to work with local authorities to support and incentivise the introduction and evaluation of free short-stay parking schemes as part of wider strategies to regenerate high streets and town centres.