THE borough council has agreed to look into increasing the free parking time limit in all council-run car parks in the town centre.

As previously reported, visitors to Eastrop Park will have no limit on how long they can park for free, thanks to a decision by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s new cabinet to stop charging for parking at the popular beauty spot.  

This sparked a further debate at a meeting of the full council on Thursday, July 20.

During the meeting, Labour's Cllr Alex Lee said: “Given that the town centre and especially the area is suffering from a lack of footfall with shops closing and prices increasing, could I ask that the new administration look into increasing the free parking time limit in all car parks in the town centre so it can breathe new life back into what was a thriving up for our borough.”

READ MORE: BDBC: Call for more to be done to help Crown Heights residents

In response, Cllr Andy Konieczko, the cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, said: “I was very pleased that we were able to scrap the parking charges at Eastrop Park earlier this week ahead of the start of the school holidays.

“I am looking as a cabinet to see how we can rejuvenate the town centre and the Top of Town is a particular part of that and getting parking right is going to be part of the solution. So yes it is something we can look at.”