Free parking boost for towns

Cllr Stephen Ardley, Portfolio Holder for Operational Partnerships said: "Clearly it is important that we receive sufficient revenue from our car parks to help with their upkeep and to improve the facilities we can offer anyone who parks in the town. However, this needs to be balanced against a need to encourage as many people as possible to come in to our towns and help boost the local economy by visiting and shopping there. Hopefully this fantastic offer will play its part."

In Bungay, all Pay and Display car parks are operating the scheme and Michelle Barker, Chair of the Bungay Chamber of Commerce, said: "This new scheme will provide a vital boost to Bungay and we really welcome the free parking offer. Bungay is a fantastic place to visit and to shop and the more we can do to encourage visitors, the better it will be for the town and our local economy." 

In Halesworth, the Thoroughfare Car Park is introducing the scheme and Tony Goldson, Waveney District Councillor and Suffolk County Councillor representing Halesworth, said: "Despite the lure of bigger towns and cities we need to remind people why places like Halesworth have so much to offer and knowing that you can pop in to the town and park for up to an hour without paying could make a big difference. This is a great scheme and just what the town needs."

The decision taken by the Council's Cabinet in July is part of a range of offers and improvements introduced by Waveney in recent months. The Ring Go cashless payment scheme was introduced in Lowestoft car parks in April, allowing car park users to pay via their mobile phone. 

Waveney's Cabinet also agreed to reduce the cost of parking permits for business and other users, across the district, again to encourage more people to park and spend money in Waveney's towns. This particular scheme will commence in November.