Free parking in the outskirts to reduce congestion.....

Some say high density of personal cars in urban interiors could be scaled down if the governments can offer free and safe parking lots in the urban outskirts.

·         How feasible is this arrangement in your view?

·         Suggest a few ways to cut down on car density in urban enclaves.

·         Some people support and some others do not. What could be their claims?

·         Argue for and against this idea.

Free parking in town centres 

Shoppers in small town high streets should be allowed to park free, a minister has indicated after towns that scrapped fees saw shopping areas flourish

Shoppers in small-town high streets should be allowed to park free, a minister has indicated, as figures show that councils are raising more money than ever from motorists.

Marcus Jones, who was made high streets minister in David Cameron’s post-election reshuffle, suggested that small town centres could become “parking meter-free zones” in an effort to save shops from closure.

The Government is growing increasingly concerned that punitive parking costs and fines are deterring shoppers from using their local high streets.

Small stores are going out of business as people increasingly shop online to avoid the threat of parking tickets, experts have warned.

Figures seen by The Telegraph disclose that councils in England and Wales are set to collect an additional £39 illion this year in parking revenues compared with last year, reaching a record total of £687 million.

Last year, local authorities took £648 million despite the Government telling them not to use parking charges and fines to raise revenue.

Cardigan council in Wales saw custom in local shops increase by up to 50 per cent after it allowed free parking when thieves destroyed the town’s four parking machines.

Asked whether small towns should become “meter-free zones”, Mr Jones said: “You can look at examples around the country where that very situation is currently in place, and in those areas where they are thinking very carefully about how they attract more people on to their high street and into those smaller town centres.

“Those areas seem to be doing better and I think it’s really important that councils understand that and develop their policies to make sure that they are attracting people to come and shop and frequent the high street.”

He added: “Unfair parking fines push up the cost of living and undermine high streets. Instead, councils should be focusing their efforts on supporting our town centres and motorists, not by raising money through over-zealous parking enforcement.”

In March, the Government announced that motorists would be given a 10-minute “grace period” to avoid a fine when their parking tickets run out. However, Mr Jones made clear that the Conservatives intend to go further and ensure that local authorities stop using parking as a “cash cow”.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” he said. “It is really important that local areas have the opportunity to consider any impacts on their high streets and town centres. Ultimately, we’re monitoring this very closely because we do take it very seriously.”

He made clear that councils penalising motorists unfairly were putting small shops at risk. “Where they are doing the right things, councils are really making a difference around the country to bring more foot fall on to the high street. But where they don’t do that, there will be consequences.”

Since February, every council should be publishing details of the income they get from parking, how they spend it and how they intend to use any profits.

“The law clearly states that parking fines should not be used as a way of generating revenue,” the Department for Communities and Local Government said.

Ministers have warned that any local authority found to be using parking fines as a way to make money could face reduced levels of government funding.

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