In order to inform a countywide review of concessions currently offered in respect of parking charges in council car parks and on street paid for parking spaces a pilot event is proposed in order to measure the benefit and impact of such events for the future.

It is recommended that a free parking in all council car parks be approved and for the free parking to take effect on Saturday 9^th February 2019, subject to certain conditions as outlined.

That:

Free parking for up to 4 hours after 10am on Saturday 9^th February 2019 in all Herefordshire Council off street car parks (except Friar Street military club), be approved as a pilot.

1.         General all day free parking for the entire day could be approved. However, this would fail to manage the demand for parking spaces from commuters and drivers arriving to the city early in the day. This could lead to congestion of car parks as space availability would be limited when taken by the first drivers to arrive into the town and city centres in the morning, predominately shop workers.

2.         Another alternative is to promote a number of free parking events and measure the impact at different times of the year. This is not recommended due to the impact that this would have on parking revenue income.