UK councils implement or propose free parking to support local high streets

Local councils in the United Kingdom are exploring or implementing new parking strategies to support high street economies.

Carmarthenshire County Council has approved a plan to introduce one hour of free parking per visit across all 67 council-owned car parks. In town centres such as Llanelli and Carmarthen, fees will apply after the first hour, with rates of £2 for two hours, £3 for three hours, or £4 for a full day. In Ammanford and rural towns, the charge after the first hour will be £2 for up to three hours or £2.50 for the full day. These rates are set to remain frozen for three years.

On the Isle of Wight, a proposal is being considered to introduce free parking every Saturday for eight months of the year, specifically between September 1 and April 30. The motion, introduced by Councillor Reuben Loake, aims to boost footfall in shopping hubs like Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Sandown, and Shanklin during the quieter, non-tourist months. If the motion passes, officials will first conduct a feasibility study to model the impact on seasonal parking revenue.