Shoppers to sign petition for 90 minutes free parking

The proposal aims to help boost high streets by encouraging more people to shop in town and city centres across the UK.

A parliamentary petition has been launched by retail event organiser Spring & Autumn Fair, which believes the scheme could revitalise high streets and create a fairer parking system nationwide.

It follows a recent survey of more than 2,000 UK consumers which found nearly two thirds (63%) said free parking would encourage them to visit their local high street more often.

Among 650 independent retailers surveyed, nearly 40% identified free parking as the most important action local authorities could take to support town centres.

Jeff Banks, British fashion designer and co-founder of the Warehouse chain, has backed the campaign.

Mr Banks said: "If we’re serious about supporting local shops and the communities around them, we need to remove the barriers that make visiting the high street harder than it needs to be.

"Making 90 minutes’ free parking available would be a simple, practical step that could make a real difference to footfall and give people another reason to choose their local high street.

"Please support this campaign to back local businesses and bring shoppers back to the high street."

The presenter of the former long-running TV series The Clothes Show has signed the petition and is urging others to do the same.

UK high street shops that no longer exist

Jackson Szabo, portfolio director at Spring & Autumn Fair which commissioned the Voice of Retail report, said: "People tell us they want vibrant town centres, independent shops and thriving local businesses.

"But they also want those places to be easy to visit.

"At the moment, whether you can enjoy free parking for half an hour, an hour or not at all depends entirely on your postcode.

"It’s become a parking postcode lottery."

The campaign calls for a national standard of 90 minutes’ free parking to address inconsistencies in parking rules across the UK.

Some towns currently have no free parking, while others offer only 30 minutes.

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He said consumers could show their support for local businesses by signing the petition.

Mr Szabo added: "Every signature is a vote for stronger local communities."

Do you think 90 minutes of free parking would make you more likely to visit your local high street? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.