Wimborne Free Parking Plea

Businesses in Wimborne are calling for East Dorset District Council to drop parking charges in the town during the Square's revamp which is due to commence in January.

The £410,000 project will include some road closures and the Wimborne & District Chamber Of Trade have called on the East Dorset District Council to help out the towns traders during this time of upheaval, especially after the free parking Saturdays in the run up to Christmas have proved so successful over the last ten years.

It is claimed the council will lose out on roughly £100,000 if they were to drop the parking charges, something that during the current financial climate would put a significant strain on the council's budget. David McIntosh, Chief Executive of Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership suggests free parking would actually have a negative effect, with shoppers being pushed out of town centre car parks by workers leading them to choose to shop elsewhere rather than hunt for suitable parking closer to town.

It is obvious the works will cause a considerable amount of disruption and even though all efforts will be made to ensure shop fronts remain accessible, it is entirely possible shoppers will be put off from visiting the town centre until after the works have been completed. Free parking in the town will go a long way in helping to increase shopper footfall.

Would free parking encourage you to shop more in the town while the Square is being revamped?