Free evening parking in Newcastle city centre should be replaced with free public transport, a passenger group has urged.
Council bosses are planning to axe the Alive After Five offer that has allowed for charge-free car parking after 5pm in popular city centre car parks for more than a decade. Serious concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the culture and leisure sector, with fears that imposing fees until 10pm will put people off driving to the city to see a show or have a meal.
The Tyne and Wear Public Transport Users Group (PTUG) has now called for the scheme to be replaced by a new initiative offering free Metro or bus travel to help keep businesses thriving. PTUG chair Vicki Gilbert said that such a move would support both the city centre’s economy and efforts to slash illegal levels of air pollution.
