Peterborough’s former MP, and Conservative Candidate for Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, has pledged to introduce free parking in Peterborough City Centre should he be elected on 1 May.
As part of a plan to encourage more visitors to the City Centre and support retail and hospitality, Paul wants to use money set aside for economic development by the Combined Authority to introduce some sort of free parking scheme in the City Centre.
Figures for 2024/25 show that for off street parking, the city Council received £2,366,000 but spent £1,072,000 on enforcement and managing the car parks. This leaves an income after expenditure of £1,294,000. Paul’s plan involves the Combined Authority in some way subsidising this lost income for the City Council.
Announcing his plan, Paul stated:
“Businesses and residents tell me time and again that the City Centre needs a plan to encourage people to visit. But we hear precious little from the City Council. I am fed up of waiting, so I am going to do something about it.
“Free parking could be the boost we need to encourage people back into our City Centre. With free parking at Serpentine Green and at Brotherhood, it is difficult for the City Centre to compete. I want to try and create a level playing field.
“I understand money is tight at the Council. The Combined Authority needs to be more than just a body that passports money to local Councils. The cash should come with conditions. Free parking could be one such condition.
“I want the City Council to work with me should I win to come up with a workable plan. Combined with a zero tolerance approach on antisocial behaviour, this could be massive step in the right direction in creating a City Centre we can be proud of.”