Town offers hour of free parking to lure shoppers

Drivers in Grantham will be given an hour of free parking from Monday in a bid to encourage more shoppers into the town.

The offer will be available at council-run car parks in Guildhall Street, Watergate, Welham Street and Conduit Lane. The Wharf Road multi-storey car park will allow two hours of free parking.

However, the move comes into effect at the same time as an increase in parking charges for longer stays in the town.

Councillor Richard Cleaver, cabinet member for property and public engagement, said the changes, approved by South Kesteven District Council in September, would "support the regeneration of the high street and shopping areas".

He added: "We are pleased to announce a set of parking charge tariffs for our off-street car parks which we believe will encourage footfall and support local businesses."

Meanwhile, the long stay in Grantham will go from £3.50 to £4 for up to four hours, while over four hours parking there will go from £4.20 to £5.

Over in Welham Street, in Grantham, up to three hours will go from £1.20 to £1.50, while up to four hours will go from £1.70 to £1.90.

Changes will also be made to parking tariffs in Stamford where 146 additional spaces will be provided at the Cattlemarket car park.

Some of the new charges that will apply also include Stamford short stay car park going from £2 to £2.50 for up to two hours, as well as two to four hours from £4.20 to £4.50, and over four hours from £5.40 to £8.

For regular users, season tickets can be purchased for use at long stay car parks in both Grantham and Stamford for three and six month periods, offering a discount on the daily parking charge.

The council said a six-month review was planned to gauge the effect of the new arrangements.

However, the authority withdrew plans to introduce evening, Sunday and bank holiday charges after a petition amassed nearly 3,000 signatures.

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