Bicester businesses back free parking in centre car parks

Les Sibley, an Independent Bicester Town and Cherwell District councillor, hopes to introduce two hours free parking in five district-run car parks across the town centre.

This includes Victoria Road, Claremont, Market Square, and Chapel Brook short stay car parks, and the long stay Cattle Market car park, which have a total of 524 spaces across the town, not including blue badge bays.

Claremont car park showing the closed Poundland in Sheep Street (Image: Newsquest)

Currently, the cost of parking for up to one hour costs £1.60, with free parking after 7pm in the short stays and 6pm in the long stay.

He says the plans would help to boost footfall, particularly on the London Road-side of the centre, by giving residents and visitors a reason to visit the town, ultimately boosting local economy.

“We are losing people to the edge of the town”, he said, “Sadly, it’s not a quick fix but the council need to do what it can to encourage people into our town centre.

“I think proposing to bring free parking is a start which will increase the footfall and bring the much-needed people back.”

Les Sibley is proposing two hours free parking across five Bicester car parks (Image: Newsquest)

A combination of high inflation, an increase in employer National Insurance rates, and flatlining wages, mean people have less money to spend and businesses are struggling to keep their spot in towns.

This is exacerbated by high rent, with some retailing units in the shopping street peaking at £2,500 per month, according to Zoopla.

John Bailey of J.B Barber Shop in Market Square welcomed the plans after seeing the decline of his and other businesses over the last 38 years.

Claremont car park (Image: Newsquest)

“I’ve seen the decline and it’s only getting worse”, said the Bicester-born 78-year-old said.

He has managed to keep his business open for more than three decades, but said it’s been “very difficult”.

He said: “I have never seen the Market Square so quiet after big shops like Marks and Spencer’s moved out of town, with New Look as the only ‘decent’ clothes shop.

“Sadly, it’s not all about parking, with business competing for profit, with at least 11 barbers in the town, the redevelopment of the square which will take 18 months, and the pedestrianisation of Sheep Street, which are all ruining the town”.

Bicester Market Square short stay car park (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Sibley argues the approach is multi-faceted, as bringing more people into the town would make it more attractive for much-needed businesses to fill vacant shops, and vice-versa.

He said: “If we don’t have the footfall we won’t get people attending the town centre but if we don’t have much here we will continue to lose them away from the town centre.”

The plans mirror what is currently in place in Sainsbury’s Pioneer Square car park, where parking is already free for two hours.

Chapel Brook car park (Image: Newsquest)

Phil Walley of Noughts and Nibbles, at the south-side of Sheep Street, which opened earlier this year, said people would use the car parks if free parking was a choice.

He said: “The Sainsbury’s car park is great and works well but if people had the option of free parking for even a small period of time they would come in and make use of it.”

Cherwell District Council said: “We’re always looking at ways we can support our local businesses and high streets, including parking and initiatives.

“Council-run car parks in Cherwell district are competitively priced, and we work to ensure that they remain affordable. Reviewing parking charges are an important part of the budget setting process and are assessed annually.

“Cherwell District Council are developing a new visitor economy and high street strategy as part of a wider economic strategy to support growth across the district. The findings from this will be helpful in identifying the right measures to support our town centres and local businesses.

“In addition, we are progressing the redesign of Market Square and implementing further improvements to the Pioneer Square area following interventions and working with shop frontage owners to improve cleanliness earlier this year, all to support town centre vibrancy.”