Make parking free to save the high street, says minister

Jake Berry was speaking as authorities in England are being invited to bid for a share of a £675 million fund to regenerate their ailing high streets.

The future high street fund, originally announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in the Budget in October, is intended to help local authorities modernise and revitalise their town centres.

And Mr Berry said one way of encourage more people to shop on the high street would be to scrap parking charges.

West Midlands town centres have seen a decline in fortunes over recent years, with several big names disappearing.

Dudley Council has been one of the most forward-thinking authorities on parking, scrapping evening charges and allowing two hours' free parking during the day.

Leaders in the borough were even prepared to withstand a £500,000 loss that from bringing in the two-hour offer.

Shropshire Council has also announced parking changes. Drivers can now pay by the hour and are offered a free 15-minute 'pop and shop' window. There will also be free evening and Sunday parking in parts of the county from January

There have been calls from the opposition Conservatives in Wolverhampton for parking regulations to be relaxed amid fears about the impact on the city centre, especially as drivers are not charged at the out-of-town Bentley Bridge shopping centre.

Councils have been accused of using drivers as cash cows and the communities minister Mr Berry said it was time for a change in strategy if the high street is to thrive.

He said: "If local authorities want to bring people back, give shoppers free parking on the high street so retailers can compete with shopping centres.

"It has been tried in a number of places. Where I have seen it succeed, the free parking lasts for two hours or so, and it means new people keep coming back with fresh money in their pockets."

He said he was aware that parking is an issue which is determined by local councils, and added he was optimistic about the future of town centres and markets because they have a "personal touch".

The future high street fund followed the recommendations of an expert panel led by the retailer Sir John Timpson which called for a community-driven approach to transforming high streets into vibrant "community hubs".

Mr Berry said: "We all know high streets are changing, we can't hide from this reality. But we're determined to ensure they continue to sit at the heart of our communities for generations to come.

"To do this we have to support investment in infrastructure, boosting local economies and ensuring people are able to get the most out of their local high streets."