WITH an influx of shoppers exploring Abergavenny on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas benefitting from free parking, a call has gone out to the local authority to introduce a two-hour free parking scheme in the town every day.

Welsh Assembly Conservatives are encouraging local councils to offer free parking to encourage shoppers into Wales' town centres. Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay said that part of their recommendation was the introduction of up to two hours free parking in town centres so as to attract more people into the high street and away from the shopping malls.

"If supermarkets are offering free car parking for at least two hours before restrictions kick in, then I think local authorities should be promoting a similar scheme to attract shoppers to their towns.

"I don't think a scheme like this will be too much of a burden on the income councils like Monmouthshire generate from car parking."

Mr Ramsay explained that there were two easy options that the Bryn-y-Cwm Area Committee had already highlighted in one of their recent debates.

"Effectively there are two schools of thought to choose from; either free before 11am or free after 3pm," he said.

"The morning option would benefit tourists and visitors as they can then pay for any additional time, whereas the after 3pm option would benefit parents with children who could park free after school hours."

Welsh Regeneration Minister Huw Lewis said the Welsh Government wanted to create vibrant town centres, but that they could not solely rely on retail and needed to look at ways of diversifying.

Mr Lewis added: "Out-of-town and internet shopping poses a fundamental challenge to the retail-dominated role of our town centres.

"Our vision is that everybody in Wales should live in a vibrant, viable and sustainable community with a strong local economy."

The Conservatives say their high street charter would guide businesses and local councils on how to manage town centres.

Mr Ramsay suggested that one option was to appoint a town centre shopping champion.

"If we are to battle against out-of-town shopping malls and town centres like Cwmbran, which don't charge a single penny for parking, then we need to be very proactive in our approach to the problem.

"A town centre shopping champion could listen to the comments of shoppers and retailers alike and work across departments in all organisations to get any initiatives implemented or problems resolved.

"I understand that there will not be a one size fits all solution to the problem as a range of ideas needs to be investigated.

"But overall the best way to get people into towns to spend is not to penalise them in the first place by means of parking charges."

Councillor Bryan Jones, Monmouthshire's cabinet member for County Operations, said, "The authority produced a range of publicity to promote the free parking in all of our towns in the run up to Christmas this year, which showed the wonderful variety of shopping that our towns offer.

"Free parking has been such a success over the previous two years that it was right to repeat it, even though it cost the council around £17,000 in lost revenue each year. 

"But, of course, our towns benefitted enormously from increased custom in shops and restaurants. And it reminded people what a brilliant range of shops we have in our towns."

Councillor John Prosser, chairman of Monmouthshire's Economy and Development Select committee said, "We are very pleased that the Christmas initiative has been welcomed by visitors and traders alike.

"Our officers have spent the last few months evaluating the free parking scenario and the implications it would have on the authority.

"As well as the two proposals suggested by the Bryn-y-Cwm Area Committee, I believe an amalgamation of the two schemes is being investigated, which could see parking being free between 9am and 10am in the morning and after 4pm in the afternoon.

"Their new proposals will be presented to us at our January meeting, at which time we shall discuss the way forward."

The Welsh Tories are also proposing changes to the way business rates are calculated as a way to boost the private sector.

In their policy document on regenerating high streets it states that free parking was one of the main attractions of out-of-town shopping centres and allowing people to park free or at a cheaper rate at certain times would encourage people back to the centre of town.