Extended free parking critical to city’s survival

Progressive leader and Wigram MP Jim Anderton supports the proposal to extend free car parking to inner-city shoppers in the run up to Christmas, and sees the move as ‘critical’ in breathing life back into the city centre after the devastating impact of the earthquake.

“The Council should be doing everything it can to encourage people back into the city centre. Extended parking will give Christmas shoppers an incentive to venture into town again and bring much-needed revenue to the city’s shops and cafes.

“One of my constituents recently took out of town visitors to shops in the city centre and over three days paid $36 in parking fees – hardly an incentive to avoid the suburban malls.

“Many Christchurch businesses have suffered huge losses and face an uncertain future or imminent closure if their revenue doesn’t improve at this crucial time. Extending free parking is a positive step in the right direction and shows goodwill to people when the city needs them most.

“Our inner-city’s very survival relies on shoppers and diners to keep its businesses afloat. The Council must take a longer term view on creating cheaper parking, easing congestion and making the city centre more user-friendly to avoid inevitable business closures and losing valuable custom to the suburban shopping malls”, says Jim Anderton.

ENDS

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