Shoppers should be allowed to park on double yellow lines to boost town centre trade, the Government believes.
It’s a step being considered to help boost high street trading.
Local town centre leaders and traders all agree more can be done, and have suggested that 30 minutes free parking in a car park would be more useful.
Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis said the relaxation of double yellow line restrictions could allow shoppers 15 minutes to park up and pop into a shop.
He said councils needed “to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement,” adding: “They should adopt a common-sense approach.
“Ministers are considering what further steps can be taken to ensure that town hall parking policies and practices support local high streets.”
Cathy Burger, on behalf of the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership Limited, said: “Whilst it is great that the Government is trying to support our high street and think of ways to boost trade within our town centres, a more thought out strategy where people could park for free for 30 minutes on-street or in car parks might be better.
“This could be more easily monitored and would not cause problems to businesses with deliveries and pick-ups, blue badge holders and the emergency services who are all allowed to park on the double yellow lines at present.
“We would welcome getting involved with the council to discuss ways in which we could encourage trade into the town.”
And Lesley Adams, chair of the Brighouse Business Initiative and a florist, said: “I think it’s unworkable, you’ll get people stretching it to 20 or 30 minutes.
“But what I would like to see is people being allowed 30 free minutes in a car park.
“Also I think a ticket system similar to what is used in hospitals would work well – people get a ticket and then pay at the machine at the end. It means they won’t have to rush back for a certain time and have more free time to shop around.”
Clr Mehboob Khan, Kirklees Council leader, said: “Double yellow lines are there for a purpose, they help to prevent town centres being jammed with cars, prevent obstructions so buses can travel freely and prevent people parking on drop kerbs.
“I think this idea is scraping at the barrel.
“I think there is ample supply of parking in different locations at affordable rates.”
Clr Khan said town centres needed to become daytime meeting places, the home of government departments and quangos and that utility companies should be made to open shops in town centres offering a face to face service for customers.
Business Secretary Vince Cable later said: “I’ve got a lot of sympathy with what (Communities and Local Government Secretary) Eric Pickles is trying to do.
“I think a lot of small businesses are driven to distraction by over-zealous enforcement of parking rules, so I think a little bit of common sense and flexibility is very much to be welcomed.”
National pilots have tried to address parking issues. In Braintree parking charges of 10p after 3pm and all day on Sunday were introduced with more than 44,000 extra cars over the course of a year.
