Mayor’s Car Park Charge Freeze
Mayor Dave Hodgson has signalled his ongoing commitment to boosting Bedford Town Centre with plans for another parking charge freeze for 2012. The announcement comes after the current year's car park charge freeze, which was the first seen in Bedford for many years and which was delivered despite rising inflation and an extremely tough financial situation facing the Council. Now, with inflation at nearly 6% and even greater financial pressures for the Council, Mayor Dave has shown his commitment to supporting shoppers and boosting the vitality of Bedford town centre by proposing a freeze for charges in the council's car parks and for on-street parking.
The Mayor's move comes against a backdrop of rising parking charges elsewhere across the country, and rising costs which make the Council's car parks more expensive to run. The freeze comes as Mayor Dave Hodgson continues his drive to back the local economy and help local shoppers. This drive is highlighted by the fact that since becoming Mayor Dave Hodgson has delivered consecutive car park charge freezes in a difficult climate, in sharp contrast to past trends and the rising prices seen in other town centres.
Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "While Councils elsewhere are putting charges up due to the difficult financial climate all local authorities are facing, we are instead recognising that local shoppers and the town centre economy need support during these tough economic times. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and so despite rising inflation and the increased costs of running the car parks we are doing everything we can to support retailers and shoppers.'
"Freezing car park charges is about helping make the town centre as vibrant and attractive as possible, as we continue to encourage people to Buy inBedford. That's why we have bucked the trend and are set to deliver another car park charge freeze."
The Mayor's Executive considered the proposal to freeze all parking charges both on-street and in the Council's car parks at its meeting on Wednesday 9th November 2011.