Petition launched against Babergh District Council’s planned phase-out of free parking arrangements in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham

Thousands of people have signed a digital petition in opposition to Babergh District Council’s plans to alter the current three-hour free parking arrangements in effect at its car parks.

The council allows for up to three hours free parking at its car parks in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham.

The subsidies enabling this amount to around £425k – and the council has announced it is planning changes to the existing arrangements.

A paper will go before the cabinet in the New Year, recommending a targeted consultation with towns likely to be affected by any changes to the parking scheme.

The council has said it is facing a budget shortfall of approximately £1.5m.

A petition has been launched opposing any phase-out of free parking.

The petition reads: “The introduction of extra car parking charges would further reduce the number of customers, employees and viability of retail businesses in the above town centres.

“Consequently business rate income will reduce as will retail choice offered resulting in less footfall.

“No economic assessment has been carried out in a rural area where car usage is essential as no reliable public service transport network is available.

“Only 14% of households do not have a car and many of those will be town dwellers.”

It has so far been signed by 2,248 people and runs until January 31.