Cannock parking plan delayed until after Christmas
A cut-price parking scheme to boost business in Cannock town centre has been delayed and will not be brought in in time for the busy Christmas shopping period.
It had been hoped a six-month pilot scheme where shoppers are charged 50p to park for 30 minutes in new pay-and-display bays would be introduced before the festive period. But a consultation on the proposals will not be concluded until the New Year, meaning shopkeepers will miss out on the predicted extra footfall.
The pilot, which will see 23 bays installed in Manor Avenue, Stafford Road and Mill Street, was agreed in August and was expected to be introduced "imminently".
Transport chiefs today admitted their disappointment at the delay.
County councillor Pat Corfield said: "I don't think realistically we are going to be looking at Christmas now, given we are almost in November.
"The consultation has to run for a period of time and then it has to be ratified.
"I'd rather this scheme was introduced sooner rather than later. It would have been nice to have given people the opportunity in the run-up to Christmas.
"The more we can do for the town centre the better – everybody needs a bit of help, that's the bottom line."
Members of Cannock Chase's joint parking committee, which is made up of district and county council members, approved the new short-stay parking bays by a majority of six to two at a meeting in August.
A last-ditch amendment calling for the bays to be free of charge was rejected.
If the new bays are only 75 per cent used, council chiefs would make £27,500 in their first year and £48,500 every subsequent year.
Traders were handed a boost earlier this month when it was announced shoppers will be able to park for free in all Cannock Chase Council car parks on December 15 and 22.
