Conservatives call on Bedford mayor to make parking free for FOUR HOURS every weekday as council introduces free temporary bays

Bedford's Mayor should remove parking charges in the town centre for FOUR HOURS every week day until the New Year, claims the town's Conservative deputy leader.

Cllr Roger Rigby is calling on the mayor to give traders an early present, to help encourage shoppers back into town.

He said: "This second lockdown has dealt Bedford's retail businesses a heavy blow, coming so soon after the Covid restrictions earlier this year and with a huge switch to online shopping during the course of the pandemic.

"The mayor must help make December busy and profitable, aiding in the revival of our hard pressed retailers and bringing shoppers back into Bedford. Whether it’s shopping in town or

click and collecting, with so many wonderful entrepreneurial, boutique and established shops, Bedford must be the place to visit this Christmas."

But Cllr Charles Royden, portfolio holder for environment, said: “We have four outstanding multi storey car parks in Bedford and several surface car parks all offering considerable capacity and prices have been frozen again for the fourth-year running.

“We provide two hours free parking every weekday at Queen Street Multi Storey Car Park and two hours free parking on all council owned centre car parks on Saturdays, all day on Sunday and free every day after 6pm in all but one."

The council also confirmed it has just installed 10 temporary parking bays across the town centre. These bays will be free to use for 15 minutes.

The bays are at:

*Castle Lane

*Commercial Road

*Greyfriars Car Park

*Harpur Street

*Lurke Street

*Mill Street

*River Street

*St Cuthbert’s Street

*St Loyes Street

*St Paul’s Square