Free car parking call for Christmas

The AA wants local authorities to introduce free car parking for Christmas to protect against Covid and boost the #ShopLocal campaign

High street car parking

High street and shopping centre car parking should be made free for Christmas in order to boost ‘Shop Local’ campaigns and help protect motorists against coronavirus.

The AA wants car parking charges lifted from 14 December “to revive the festive fortunes of beleaguered shops and street traders”.

President Edmund King said free car parking periods have been used in the past by councils and shopping centres to boost Christmas trade.

“Now, more than ever, the hours and free parking locations should be extended.”

Mr King also pointed to the irony of shops and stores taking great effort to socially distance shoppers – only for them to fall down as motorists cluster around ticket machines to pay for car parking.

“Opening up free parking would allow better social distancing instead of ticket machines becoming the Achilles’ heel of attempts to space out and protect visitors.”

The challenge has been made worse by complicated ticket machines requiring motorists to enter vehicle registrations numbers and credit card details – far from the ‘contactless’ experience often promoted during the coronavirus crisis.

“Queuing is often a problem as ticket machines are located where shoppers are squeezed at car park entrances or close to toilets.”

Although some councils have introduced parking via mobile phone apps, many are put off by how complex they are to use.

AA research found that 7 in 10 members were more likely to drive past than use a pay-by-phone parking space.

Earlier this year, London was revealed as the fourth most expensive place in the world to park a car.

ALSO READ

Related Articles

Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Find a Car Review

Latest

New Volkswagen ID.Buzz GTX gets 340hp and all-wheel drive

The retro-styled ID. Buzz people carrier is now offered with 340hp, making for an unlikely addition to Volkswagen’s sporty GTX range.

How to protect your car with an OBD port locking device

We explain how to prevent your car being stolen by criminals targeting its On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port.

Kia EV9 is World Car of the Year 2024

The Kia EV9 is the latest pure electric car to be named World Car of the Year – and it also scooped the World Electric Vehicle 2024 prize

Godzilla fights on: Nissan GT-R Skyline and Takumi editions revealed

The venerable Nissan GT-R gains two new special editions for 2024, but the UK will be denied both of them. Sorry.