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Free parking campaigner urges people to make April trial a success
21/03/2024
Barry Whitehouse has welcomed Banbury’s free parking trial
The man who has been campaigning for fourteen years for some form of free parking in Banbury has welcomed Cherwell District Council’s announcement of a free first hour in Castle Quay car parks throughout April.
Barry Whitehouse, who runs the Artery Art Shop in Parson’s Street is hoping people will use the opportunity to demonstrate to the council the positive impact free parking can have on the town.
Visitors to Banbury will receive their first hour’s parking free throughout April at Castle Quay’s North 1, North 2 and South car parks. The offer will run every day.
Mr Whitehouse said: “As one of the main campaigners for one hour free parking for the last fourteen years through posters, awareness, petitions etc, it is welcome news and a good start.
“It is a positive outcome after years of campaigning and we sincerely hope that everyone will support this initiative and use it in the hope that it not only proves successful, but is also carried out town-wide as many towns up and down the country already do.
“We would also like to remind everyone of the vast amount of independent shops that lie a few minutes walk from Castle Quay and maybe make use of their free hour to explore them too.”
Over a number of years Cherwell has resisted calls for free parking and Wednesday’s announcement of a trial came out of the blue. The Council says the initiative builds on a previous offer of free Sunday parking at Castle Quay in December and January.
Councillor Andrew McHugh, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “We do receive regular feedback from Cherwell residents saying that Banbury would benefit from free parking so we are carrying out this further trial to see what the impacts would be.”
Cherwell District Council will evaluate data from the April trial to help inform its future parking policies. The trial offer is limited to Castle Quay’s car parks and charges remain in force for all other Council owned facilities.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam