Free parking for 30 minutes aims to boost business

Business owners are "delighted" by a new initiative offering 30 minutes of free parking in some Surrey car parks.

Ten car parks in Claygate, Hersham, Weybridge and Oxshott, among others, are offering free parking.

Elmbridge Borough Council hopes the move will boost the local economy and help keep smaller parades of shops "vibrant".

James Davis, who runs a hairdressers and a coffee shop in Oxshott, said he was "delighted" by the offer and hoped some of the traffic passing through the village would be encouraged to stop now the free parking was offered.

"A lot of big towns have large car parks and footfall," he told BBC Radio Surrey.

"In a lot of villages, they need every little bit of support."

The measure was introduced on Monday.

Kirsty Hewens, the councillor responsible for parking and the local economy at Elmbridge, said residents and businesses had told her they were keen to have this introduced.

She said the loss of money coming in would have a "modest" financial impact on the council.

"But we see it as an investment in wider economic health of communities," she said.

"If it helps keep businesses afloat and local parades more vibrant, that benefits everyone."

She added that traders were "delighted" and "over the moon" with the free parking offer.

The introduction follows a pilot in Walton-on-Thames, where Ashley Park, Drewitts Court and Manor Road car parks will continue to offer 30 free minutes every day.

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