No extra free parking in Northampton town centre this Christmas, says council

Extra free parking in Northampton town centre has been ruled out this Christmas by the powers that be.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) confirmed today (Tuesday, December 20) that there will be no free parking outside the regular two hours on Saturday and all day Sundays at council-owned car parks this festive season.

The last two years have seen a 'free after three' scheme and no charge on Saturdays, intended to encourage shoppers to get into town and help out independent businesses during the festive period.

The Chronicle & Echo asked on December 12 if WNC was planning on doing the same this year. Cllr Phil Larratt, WNC’s cabinet member for transport, said 'there were no funds available' to do the same this year.

The councillor said: "Over the last few Christmas seasons WNC and its predecessor, Northampton Borough Council were able to utilise Covid funding to support retail businesses through making accessibility to the town centre more easy by temporarily suspending car parking charges in our town centre car parks.

"While we would very much like to be able to continue supporting our town centre businesses and shoppers by offering free parking, unfortunately there are no funds available to repeat the offer this year, while overhead costs are significantly increasing, especially energy costs.”

Independent councillor Julie Davenport, who has been a consistent campaigner for free parking in the town centre, says she is ‘very disappointed’.

"I am very disappointed by this decision not to continue to support businesses in Northampton in this way,” councillor Davenport said.

"Free parking is a proven way to increase town centre shopping. I thought we wanted to help businesses.

“I understand the council has financial challenges due to the cost of living and they can draw from their reserves and put council taxes up as they do every year.

"Businesses do not have that ability to raise capital in that way so need all the help they can get and free car parking does make a difference to encourage people to the town centre at the busiest time of the year.”

Councillors are also set to raid the pockets of town centre shoppers by hiking car park charges from April in a bid to plug a £60 million shortfall in funding.

Recommendations going before WNC's cabinet on Tuesday (December 20) include scrapping free parking on Saturdays and Sundays in the town’s car parks and raising charges midweek by ten percent from April 2023.

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