Free parking boost for Dudley town centre
Free parking will be trialled in a Black Country town with hopes of it bringing more shoppers into the centre.
An introduction of two hours of free parking on the Flood Street car park in Dudley could be made permanent if a six-month trial period is a success.
The Ukip-backed motion, which was passed at a meeting of the full council on Monday night, will also see the current spaces with free parking be restricted to 30 minutes in a bid to support 'greater turnover' within the town centre.
Councillor Paul Brothwood, leader of the Ukip group in Dudley, said: "I am pleased another Ukip motion was agreed unanimously.
"We have worked with local residents and businesses to see which cost effective solution would help create a catalyst for our borough town centres.
"With our free parking motion in place it will provide a trial period to implement it with little revenue loss to the council.
"We will continue to stand up for our boroughs town centres and believe this is just the start.
"Regeneration is the key to a prosperous borough. For this to happen initiatives like ours need to be actioned. I look forward to see thing results of the trial."
Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of the council, welcomed the trial along with leader of Dudley Conservatives Councillor Patrick Harley.
Councillor Lowe added: "This is a workable plan and we will have three months to look at current working and then compare it over the the next three months."
Free parking is currently available on council-run car parks across the Dudley borough on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas.
Charges will be suspended on December 10, 17 and 24.
Dudley Council also said it intends to offer free parking on one late shopping night, though it is yet to decide which night.
The parking motion was one of two put forward by Councillor Brothwood at the council meeting.
The other requested that the cabinet to consider whether to use powers on three derelict shops on Sandringham Place, in Wordsley, with a view to building more housing for the area.
However, this motion was lost with 56 votes against and only five for, with anti-social behaviour and empty shops being labelled as a 'borough-wide issue'.
