A CAMPAIGN has been launched to try and get unlimited free parking for up to 72 hours in all council-owned and managed car parks in Chard.

The Free Parking for Chard campaign has been initiated by David Laughton, of the Chard Town Team, and he is calling on local councillors to support the project.

Mr Laughton believes free car parking will “improve the quality of life” for local people and visitors to the town.

“We need councillors to be brave and innovative, to approach this modern world and its challenges in a new way,” he said. “These car park facilities are woefully underused at present.”

He claimed that Chard at the moment receive no direct monetary benefit from any income received from the car parks owned by South Somerset District Council.

“All small market towns face fierce competition from the internet and a change in shopping patterns,” added Mr Laughton. “Many out of town shops and businesses offer free parking. Chard needs to compete!

“The benefits will be huge to the town. People will feel to be made welcome and free parking will provide stress free relaxed shopping and increase the time people spend in the town.

“Business will benefit from increased turnover. The town will appeal more to entrepreneurs and we will see new enterprises.

“Workers in the town would benefit from free parking. Residents will benefit as shoppers and workers will no longer park for hours on residential streets which in turn will increase road safety.”

The district council is already looking at the possibility of introducing up to two hours’ free parking for towns across South Somerset after a motion put forward last month by Cllr Martin Wale, a former Chard Mayor, was supported.

“I have listened to concerns expressed by traders and the district council for some time about the decline of our High Streets, particularly in our market towns,” said Cllr Wale.

“During the recent elections I and other Conservative candidates pledged to try and bring about a change in parking tariffs to help our High Streets.

“That’s why I took the motion to the council and was successful in persuading them to accept that an initial free period was an essential part of our fight to retain and assist our shopkeepers and shoppers.

“I will now closely monitor the progress of this change of policy to make sure it is implemented as soon as possible.”

Ilminster Chamber of Trade and Commerce has recently asked Ilminster Town Council for its support in getting two hours free parking every day in all of its town’s car parks.

Traders accept that although it would result in a loss of car park revenue for the district council, they claim that free parking has been shown to have a positive impact on towns.

Mr Laughton is looking for people to support him in his campaign by emailing dandpl@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0146-239539.

He has also set up a petition online at https://www.change.org/p/south-somerset-district-council-free-parking-for-chard .