A councillor has vowed to bring back free parking on a high street after it was scrapped.
Liberal Democrat Jack Davies is vying for a seat on Hampshire County Council in the Lymington and Boldre ward.
Cllr Davies, who already serves as a councillor for Pennington on New Forest District Council, said he will bring back one hour of free parking in Lymington High Street.
The free parking was scrapped by the Conservative-led county council in 2022, much to the disdain of businesses and residents.
Free parking on the high street is currently limited to 20 minutes, but Cllr Davies said this is not enough for shoppers or for businesses trying to survive.
He said: “Lymington businesses have struggled since the introduction of parking meters and the reduction of free parking from one hour to twenty minutes.
“It’s not just parking meters. The changes to business rates have also hit small independent shops harder than the national chains.
“Where the council can help, it should help. That’s why bringing back one-hour of free parking so people can shop for longer, is so important.”
The benefits would go beyond helping drivers save money – it would also keep people in Lymington and “reduce the incentive” to travel elsewhere, according to Cllr Davies.
He added: “The High Street is the beating heart of our town. When it thrives, the whole town thrives.
“The decision by the Conservative-run council to install parking meters and cut the free parking period from one hour to twenty minutes was a deliberate attempt to cash in on Lymington’s strength as a retail destination.
“All it has done is reduce footfall and make life harder for small independent shops on the High Street.”
His plea comes five months after two shop owners presented a petition signed by more than 8,000 people calling on the council to remove the parking meters.
It was previously revealed that the county council raked in more than £260,000 over three years from the parking meters.
Up to one hour of parking on the high street currently costs £1.50, while the maximum of two hours costs £3.10.
Lymington High Street is home to a variety of independent shops, chains, coffee shops and restaurants.
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