Question:
“What would stop a one month trial of 2 hours free car parking per car, per day to stimulate foot fall? No real cost to do apart from lost revenue”
Answer from Cllr Peter Giddings, Test Valley Borough Council Economic Portfolio Holder:
“A free parking scheme would cost the Borough around £1.3m per year which would lead to an increase in council tax of approximately £30. Council Tax cannot be raised by that amount because the Government restricts increases to 2%. We haven’t raised Council Tax this year and don’t intend to do so next year.
The car parks around the town are generally full as parking charges are already very cheap.”