YOU might be surprised to read that plans to introduce charges in a town-centre car park which was previously free have been welcomed by a lot of locals.
But that is what is proposed in Belper and it does seem an eminently sensible solution to a problem which was always likely to arise.
To encourage shoppers into Belper, rather than seeing them head off down the A6 to Derby, the town council resurfaced the car park at The Coppice and made it free.
Shoppers were delighted and traders saw it as a welcome move.
But motorists are a canny lot – particularly commuters.
Shoppers became frustrated because they found that the parking places had been taken by the time they got there in mid-morning. The occupants were the vehicles of people who were then taking the train to Derby.
So, ironically, the town council had indirectly helped the Derby businesses with which they were in competition!
So now the council plans to introduce charges – but only for those who use the car park for more than three hours.
That will satisfy Belper shoppers and the council, which should be rewarded for recognising how influential parking charges are to people when they weigh up where to take their trade.
In two other Derbyshire towns a similarly enlightened decision was taken three months ago.
In Ilkeston and Long Eaton, it was decided by Erewash Borough Council to more than double the number of free 30-minute parking spaces, from 36 to 75.
People will not pop into the town centre for a pint of milk and a newspaper if parking costs them more than their purchases.
Other councils, please note.
