Free city centre parking decision due on Tuesday

Residents will soon find out whether a free city centre parking scheme will go ahead.

The proposal means parking would be free in Peterborough after 15:00 from Monday to Friday in Bishops Road, Car Haven, Riverside and Pleasure Fair Meadow car parks.

It would be funded by Paul Bristow, the Conservative mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), after he pledged to introduce the policy during his election campaign.

The scheme has been recommended for approval, but the final decision will be taken at Peterborough City Council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Last year Bristow committed £1.5m of his budget to bring free parking to both Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.

The CPCA has previously said the scheme would run on a "time-limited trial" and its impact on the town centre would be assessed.

It has offered the city council £891,667 in grant funding to deliver the scheme and to offset any parking income losses it might incur.

The council operates 11 off-street car parks, most of which charge between 07:00 and 20:00 Monday to Sunday.

Together, they generate about £2.7 million in income each year, according to council papers.

Officials estimate it would lose £544,118 per year if the free parking goes ahead at the four car parks.

Bristow has previously said: "Free parking after 15:00 means more people choosing to come into the city for an evening out, to shop, to eat and to support the businesses that make Peterborough worth visiting."

If approved, the scheme could be in place in August.

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