MORE motorists are using Winterbourne’s Flaxpits Lane car park since South Gloucestershire Council made the first half hour of parking free in all spaces.
But traders say the change has made little or no difference to their businesses.
The council introduced free half-hour stays on June 29 for all spaces in the 22 car parks where charges were brought in last year, including Flaxpits Lane.
Figures released to the Voice show the number of recorded stays in July was up in almost all of the car parks, including Flaxpits Lane, when compared with the same month last year, while takings were down in most of them.
During July, 509 motorists had 30-minute free stays in Flaxpits Lane, while 656 paid to stay for longer – a combined total of 1,165 visits. The council collected £816.30 in charges.
A year earlier, 913 cars used the car park, with drivers paying a total of £1,087.10 to park in July 2025.
When charges were first introduced, car parks that had short stay areas, including in Winterbourne, had a small number of free 30-minute spaces.
The council’s figures don’t show how many drivers used those spaces free last July, as they didn’t have to use the ticket machine to record their stay – but with only a few spaces per car park available, the number of drivers who could park free each day was limited.
Now any space can be used for a free half-hour stay.
A council spokesperson said: “It is good to see that these improvements have had a positive impact. The increase in use of the car parks will help support South Gloucestershire’s high streets and local businesses.”
‘No increase’ in footfall
But Winterbourne businesses said the change had made no noticeable difference to their trade.
Estate agent Andrew Maunder, of AJ Homes, said: “I haven’t seen an increase in footfall.
“All the roads nearby are awash with cars.
“I still cannot believe they are making more money from this car park than the cost of policing it.
“If it’s costing them more to run the scheme than they are generating income, how is that good use of our money?”
Tyrese Tucker, of C&N Barbers, said: “I’m unaware of it. If there were more free parking, that would help us.
“No-one knows about it, so no-one goes into that car park.
“The road is often rammed with parked cars, because no-one wants to use the car park.
“It is borderline dangerous for kids walking by to school.”
Several shop owners questioned why similar council-owned car parks for local shopping precincts in Yate, at Abbotswood and Cranleigh Court, did not have charges.
Terrence Bone, of car spares shop Motorwell, said: “Why are we being treated differently?
“I feel it’s wrong that they are two-tier.”