- Free 30-minute parking in all council car parks
- All council short-stay car parks extended to 4-hour stay
- Changes from mid-November
Tamworth Borough Council can confirm that following last year’s first formal review of car parking since 2011, changes to Tamworth town centre car parks will be fully implemented by mid-November.
The changes will bring a 30-minute free parking, increase the length of stay at Holloway car park and new names for three car parks making them easier for visitors to find.
By introducing a free 30-minute stay at all council car parks, it is hoped to encourage more people into the town for a quick visit or to run an errand, so boosting town centre trade and activity.
The new names for some of the council car parks will make it easier for visitors to find the locations. This includes:
- Holloway to become Castle
- Riverdrive to become Castle Pleasure Grounds
- Aldergate to become Assembly Rooms
Visitors to the castle often park in Holloway (to be renamed Castle), but the existing maximin two hours stay discourages visitors from staying longer and exploring the town. By changing the length of stay to four hours, it is hoped castle visitors will go on to explore the town, and so further boost the local economy.
As part of this review, parking charges will also increase. Parking charges have remained the same since 2011 and will see charges increase by an average of 66pence for each stay. Even with the increase in charges, Tamworth remains one of the cheapest towns in which to park in Staffordshire. In addition, the price increase is considerably lower than inflation which has risen by 53% since 2011. (According to consumer price index).
Parking for blue badge holders will remain free and there is no change in prices for permit or season tickets holders.
Changes will see an all day stay in a long-stay car park increasing by 50p to £5 and short-stay car parks increasing by 60p for three hours. Although long stay at Jolly Sailor increases by 50p to £2 for an all day stay.
Other car park changes include Hospital Street car parks become long stay car parks.
Overall, the changes are intended to boost trade in the town centre by making more short stay parking spaces available to shoppers and visitors, making it easier to ‘pop in’ to town.
Councillor Nova Arkney, portfolio holder for infrastructure, heritage and local economy, said: “Introducing a free 30-minute stay in all council car parks aims to encourage more visitors to the town as people ‘pop in’ for a quick visit or run an errand.
“There have not been any significant changes to car park tariffs since 2011. Since then, the way visitors use the town has changed and we needed to reflect this with our carparking charges and short-stay parking.
“Renaming some of our carparks will help people, especially those who don’t know the town very well, find the car park they are looking for and make their visit to town easier.”