Audio: Burgess Hill Free Parking Proposal Debated On BBC Radio Sussex

The BBC Radio Sussex Breakfast Show spent Wednesday morning discussing the petition that labour councillors are running in Burgess Hill which will ask Mid Sussex District Council to introduce three hours free parking in Burgess Hill.

They seek for it to be funded through the 'New Homes Bonus' awarded to local councils from the government each year. Other councils have used the money for this purpose and it has proved very successful. The Conservative party have announced that they don't want to introduce the scheme even before the petition has been completed and debated!

Here's all the audio footage taken from across the three hour show....
Note: Those on a mobile/tablet may need to go directly to the soundcloud.com playlist to access the audio....
https://soundcloud.com/burgess-hill-uncovered/sets/burgess-hill-parking-debate




Extra Information:
For those seeking more detail and reasoning behind Labour's proposal, Cllr Andrews explains...

"Free parking periods are common in other similar sized towns and every town reports increased interest and commercial activity. Free parking was identified as one of the main issues for the rejuvenating of town centres in the review of failing towns carried out for the Government by Mary Portas.

"The District Council acknowledges it's beneficial effect by providing free disc parking in Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Lindfield and Cuckfield. The case for a free parking period is really beyond argument - the only argument can be about the loss of revenue to the District Council although a more vibrant town would probably produce more business rate income.

"The Council has recently received a New Homes Bonus of £5.3million, the use of which they are expected by the Government to discuss with the people affected by the new housing. This is effectively a windfall income. When it reviewed the first year of the working of the scheme, the Government praised Councils who had used the money to introduce free parking, pointing to the effectiveness in improving the towns."

It's good to share, so let people know that Burgess Hill was on the radio!

Got an opinion on this story? Leave a comment below....
What do you make of the footage? Do you support Labour's proposals for three hours of free parking in Burgess Hill using the new homes bonus?