Free Saturday parking to be trialled in Newtown over the summer

Shoppers and visitors to Newtown will be able to park for free on Saturdays this summer after the town council approved a three-month trial at the Gravel Car Park.

Newtown Town Council agreed the pilot scheme at its last full meeting, with free parking in place every Saturday throughout July, August and September.

Councillors said the move is intended to support local businesses, increase footfall in the town centre and make it easier for people to attend major events taking place over the summer.

Presenting the proposal, Cllr Richard Edwards outlined the plan and responded to questions from fellow councillors. Members discussed amendments to the original recommendation, which were endorsed by the Town Clerk before being approved by the council.

The resolution allows for a budget of up to £3,800 to fund the trial, provided a cost-effective way of monitoring the scheme is identified and signed off by the Economy and Environment Committee.

The Gravel Car Park was chosen for the pilot as it is well placed for town centre access and is expected to be heavily used during busy summer weekends.

Councillors said that the trial would give the council an opportunity to promote the initiative and assess whether free parking has a positive impact on local trade.

The council said the results of the pilot would help inform any future decisions on parking arrangements in Newtown.