A RETAIL group in Tetbury are campaigning for an hour-free car park in the town centre to make shops more accessible.

The Tetbury Tourism Group are hoping to put in place a car park that does not charge the first hour of parking.

Lauren Neale, owner of Henrietta’s House toy shop in Church Street and a member of the Tetbury group, said: “We have been trying for a couple of years to get hour-free parking.

“Customers who are local have said that they like the toy shop because they can walk there. They will not pay to park in Tetbury, not when they live here.

“We think hour-free parking would dramatically help our businesses. An AA survey proved that businesses improve if you’ve got free parking. If you arrive somewhere and you can’t park and there’s loads of traffic, it must have an effect.

“The free car park by the Chipping steps is a very steep slope and you won’t get people parking there and walking up a hill pushing a pram or with a walking stick.

“I get customers who park there but they are very able and fit and active.”

Despite opposition from a councillor who argued that the scheme would clog up the car parks in town, the group are positive that the idea will bring some relief to many of Tetbury’s residents.

Mrs Neale said: “That was just one councillor’s opinion. We might as well try and see. These are the people who just want to pick up bread and then go off. It’s not to do with parking up all day. We can’t see where there is a problem.

“When you run a business, you see things in a different way.

“It would count a lot to the local people of Tetbury. They won’t pay to park and I can’t blame them. When they pay council tax, they shouldn’t have to pay in the local car park.”

According to Lauren, when the proposal was put forward at a public meeting, at least 120 people supported the idea.

Kevin Painter, also a member of the retail group and deputy mayor of the town, said: “An hour-free car park would not only encourage locals to pop back into the town, but it would also give visitors the chance to see if they wish to spend more time in our town.

“Our town needs this to help balance the scales of the free parking that is offered in many of the larger out-of-town complexes.

“I think CDC should be asked how much revenue they make from the car parks and how much has been spent on repairs and enhancements. Car parking is not supposed to be a cash cow for councils.

“I believe that we, in our own towns, could take over running the car parks far better and for the benefit of all our towns. We should try to help our own local economy to make sure it stays.”