A town centre parking scheme has been extended by three months to keep supporting businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The popular Free for Three initiative, which allows drivers to park at certain areas in the town free of charge for three hours, was due to come to an end at the beginning of May.
However, following calls from Paisley First it will now remain in place until August this year to further support retailers in the town still recovering from the pandemic.
The extension was agreed at the recent Renfrewshire Council Infrastructure Land and Environment Policy Board meeting, with members agreeing it should remain in place due to the Scottish Government guidance on living with covid.
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A report published following the meeting said the move would help “rebuild for a better future, in order to assist businesses, retail and communities transition”.
It said councillors would revisit the scheme at the end of August to “allow a further review of where Renfrewshire is with the pandemic over the summer period
The decision has been hailed by chair of Paisley First, Colette Cardosi, who had reached out to council leader Iain Nicolson in a bid to keep the scheme running.
She said: “I am delighted the council have made the decision that there will be currently no change to the pilot parking arrangements in Paisley Town Centre with three hours free parking within eight car parks continuing to remain in place until the end of August 2022.
“I should also like to express my thanks to the council for granting the extension and I look forward to continuing to work with the parking task force to achieve a long term solution which will benefit the town centre businesses in the future.”
The Free for Three scheme was devised by Business Improvement District (BID) Paisley First in 2019.
The first six months of the pilot led to a dramatic increase in people using the selected car parks in Orchard Street, Weighhouse Close, Hunter Street, Oakshaw and School Wynd.
There was a 56 per cent rise in transactions recorded during the trial compared with the same period in 2018 and there was a four per cent decrease in transactions at the council’s non-pilot car parks.
Councillors have continually accepted calls to extend the scheme to allow for full data to be collected on the success of the project.
However, some councillors are calling for the Free for Three scheme to become a permanent policy for Renfrewshire Council.
Renfrewshire Labour leader, councillor Eddie Devine, said keeping Free for Three is “vital” in continuing to improve Paisley.
The Paisley Southeast councillor said: “This scheme has proved time and time again that it is successful and I think the council really need to consider keeping it in place permanently.
“It is something that Paisley needs to continue helping businesses recover from the pandemic and it encourages people to come into the town.
“Any project which brings people to the High Street and supports businesses there should not be considered as something temporary.”
