Traders in Stone have launched an appeal for free parking in the town to attract more people to shop local.
A petition started by Helen Quinton, manager of Francesco’s on the High Street, has been signed by 37 town businesses and, after getting the backing of the town council, will be presented to Stafford Borough Council, which operates Stone’s three pay-and-display car parks.
Helen said that footfall in the town centre during weekdays is “dying out” and that free parking would encourage people to return. The petition calls for free parking from Monday to Thursday, although the town council voted to support a proposal for one or two days.
Helen said: “It’s really important that we don’t discourage people from coming into the town centre. We don’t want more businesses in the High Street to close.”
Stone Town Council currently offers free parking at car parks at Crown Wharf and Northesk Street.
2 comments
MrT
There is already free parking in Stone – at Morrisons for the first two hours which should be enough to shop in Stone High Street. What SBC should do is make the municipal car parks free for the first two/three hours and then whack the price up to discourage long-term parking.
abettertownplannerthanyou
It’s always mend and make do. Where’s the 15-20 year plan??? what happens when you’ve built same old bland houses on all available land, then you realise basic amenities have been overlooked and neglected…knock them back down?. How is stone going to function with an ever-increasing population thanks to government target fulfilling housing developments planned.