Shoppers' free parking may continue for another year

The Free After 3 and free Saturday parking initiatives were launched by Rotherham Council in response to a plea from shopkeepers who said

parking fees were putting people off the town.

An experimental scrapping of pay and display charges was launched last May, and a survey of traders by the authority revealed that the idea has had an effect on footfall.

The council's spokesman for regeneration and development services, Coun Gerald Smith, said the scheme would be extended from April for a

further year to allow the effect on shops to build.

He added: "We are strongly recommending the continuation of our free parking initiatives as part of our contribution to supporting town centre businesses in Rotherham.

"We know these initiatives are working, because our town centre staff went out and asked business people.

"More than seven out of 10 of those we asked felt Free After 3 had the potential to increase trade and footfall.

"Virtually half said it had already done so.

"On free Saturdays, more than six out of 10 said both trade and footfall had increased."

The idea may have to be scrapped or scaled back if Rotherham Council is not successful in attracting funding for the scheme, which would come from the Department of Communities and Local Government under the Local Area Agreement scheme.

Coun Richard Russell, the authority's Cabinet member for Streetpride, said it would have to wait and see but: "We are confident our council colleagues will see the value of these schemes because we believe they have helped the town during a difficult economic climate."