Free parking scheme is a “waste of council money”

A LOCAL man has criticised Westbury Town Council’s decision to pay for two free hours’ parking in the town saying it is not value for money.

Councillors voted overwhelmingly to fund two free hours’ parking in the High Street, Warminster Road and Westfield House car parks, saying it will give local businesses a boost and is money well spent.

However, local resident Peter Biggs has argued that funding is not justified and could be better spent elsewhere.

Peter said, “I am amazed that the town council agreed to spend over £35,000 on providing two hours’ free parking in the town car parks from its rather limited budget. The economics just do not add up and there is no chance of getting value from this excessive sum of money.

“Using £35,000 as the base amount, assume 20% as administration and other fees, leaves £28,000 – a two-hour parking slot costs 80p, so this equates to 35,000 two-hour slots in a year. Working on five days per week (Saturday and Sunday free) and functioning on Bank holidays etc., for a 50-week year, this gives 140 slots per day. Assuming that each car might spend on average £5 in purchases, that would give traders £700 per day or £175,000 per year – does that sound remotely realistic?

“The High Street car park is the main one for access to the town centre. It has just over 100 paying slots – all of which need to be taken for two hours. Let us hope that not all 140 cars arrive simultaneously.

“So what shops/services are available in the High Street? Well, four charity shops, three estate agents, two hairdressers, two pharmacists, several cafes/takeaways, butcher, florist, bookies, pound and card shops, dry cleaners, menswear, newsagent, visitors centre, library and Davies. Surely, even for the most optimistic councillors, and ignoring the estate agents, an income of £175,000, generated by these businesses annually, is impractical. There is free parking for 90 minutes at both Morrisons and Aldi – the former within easy walking distance of the High Street!”