A Mid Wales Assembly Member has reacted with disappointment at the decision to only introduce free parking in Council run car parks for two days during December.
Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, has said that small businesses will be disappointed that Powys County Council has restricted free parking to the last two Saturdays before Christmas only.
Mr George said:
“In previous years, Powys County Council has introduced free parking every day from the first Saturday in December up until Christmas Eve.
“While I welcome the council leader’s decision to offer part of his allowances to subsidise parking on the last two Saturdays before Christmas, I would like to see a repeat of the commitments made in previous years.
“I firmly believe that free parking is the key to our high street revival and at Christmas, flexible parking can play a huge role in encouraging shoppers into our town centres and high streets. The evidence clearly shows that when parking is easy, footfall soars.
“Mid Wales deserves high streets that are fit to compete with 21st century shopping patterns and that means far more innovative thinking and creative support. Free parking is one of the easiest answers to the question of high street decline.
“With Small Business Saturday taking place on Saturday 5th December, free parking would have encouraged consumers to shop locally and support small businesses in their communities.