Plan to drop free parking 'will harm town centre'

14 October 2025

Martin Heath,Bedfordshire political reporterand

Holly Nichols,Bedfordshire

News image — Michael Nagals, 54, and Kerrie Price, 66, said dropping free parking would have an impact on the business community

Holly Nichols/BBC Michael Nagals with very short hair, black framed glasses and a slight dark beard, wearing a blue jacket over a white shirt, and Kerrie Price with medium-length blonde hair wearing a grey zip-up jacket and white shirt. They are smiling at the camera and standing across the road from a light-coloured multi-storey car park. — Michael Nagals, 54, and Kerrie Price, 66, said dropping free parking would have an impact on the business community

Shoppers have said a plan to stop free parking will harm a town centre.

Bedford Borough Council decided to suspend the concession at two multi-storey car parks, which is expected to save £150,000.

The Conservative Deputy Mayor, Jim Weir, said businesses "loved" the free parking, but the council could no longer afford it.

Ben Schofield/BBC Tom Wootton, with very short grey hair and beard. He is wearing a dark grey jacket, pink shirt and dark tie and is looking at the camera. He is standing in front of a grey metal fence with grass and hedges beyond. — The Conservative Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton, signed off the decision to suspend free parking

The Conservative Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton, introduced four hours of free parking at Allhallows multi-storey car park in August 2023 to help town centre businesses.

It was extended to the Lurke Street car park in October 2024.

However, the scheme has been put on hold from 3 November as the council battles with a forecasted £14m budget shortfall.

Holly Nichols/BBC Amanda Massey with long blonde hair, wearing a blue shirt and white scarf while smiling at the camera in front of a restaurant with words including JERK, PATTIES and CURRIED GOAT painted on the outside. — Shopper Amanda Massey said dropping free parking was "a real shame"

Michael Nagals, who uses the Lurke Street facility, said he was against the decision due to "the impact it would have on the business district, more than anything, because small businesses rely on the customer flow, and if customers can't park, they can't shop".

Kerrie Price said: "If I'm going shopping, it's easy to get in and out and it's nice not to worry about any costs."

Amana Massey also parks at Lurke Street and added: "I do use it probably two or three times a week, just with appointments or bank meetings, so that's a real shame."

James Parker, 54, found the free parking to be "incredibly useful" and "it definitely encourages me to come and use the facilities of the town itself".

He added that it was good for people who worked in town to get free parking for some of the day.

Steve Pressley Steve Pressley with short dark brown hair and slight beard, with dark-framed glasses, smiling at the camera and wearing a brown sweat shirt. There is a white wall behind him and window with brown curtain to his right. — Steve Pressley, who owns a printing firm in Bedford, said free parking meant people spent longer in town and spent more money

Steve Pressley owns Printiyo, a printing firm in Bedford, and said businesses were "not happy about it".

He explained that, with four hours of free parking, shoppers who only plan to visit one business in the town centre "would be more likely to stay there and frequent other places".