Southampton City Council is consulting on plans to introduce ten-minute free parking in some places to help “get Southampton moving”, but some say it will encourage driving and “add to the congestion in our city”.
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The proposals would see some of the council’s on-street and off-street pay and display facilities converted to provide a free 10-minute option in addition to the standard tariffs.
Currently the only 10-minute free periods provided are in East Street and Bedford Place.
Cllr Jeremy Moulton (Con), deputy leader and cabinet member for growth, said: “As part of our election campaign we promised to improve access to parking within the city. This consultation is an important step towards delivering on that promise and helping to Get Southampton Moving. We believe that these proposals will support local businesses that rely on passing trade and provide a boost for the local economy.”
However a spokesperson for Southampton Street Space, which campaigns for “healthy, safer, more liveable streets”, said that ten minutes’ free parking will “just serve to encourage driving the sort of trips that could very often be cycled or walked, just adding to the congestion in our city”.
“It will not encourage more spend in the high street, but people to drive to get that pint of milk rather than walking. Research from TfL in 2018 showed that people who walk or cycle to the shops spend up to 40% more in the high street than those who drive there. If the council wants to help get Southampton moving, and add value to the retail in the city they would do better to spend the money that this extra subsidy to drivers will cost them on facilities for those who walk and cycle.”
If approved, it is proposed that the following locations would offer the ten-minute free parking option:
• Compton Walk Car Park
• Commercial Road / Wyndham Place Car Parks
• London Road
• Queensway
• St. Marys Street
• Bevois Valley Car Park
The consultation runs until October 1. The council says residents can submit their views at https://transport.southampton.gov.uk/tro (tip: the second, third and fourth links from this page seem most relevant but you have to then download PDFs for further information on each).