Shropshire MP calls for free parking to support Small Business Saturday

A Shropshire MP has called on Shropshire Council to introduce free parking to back small business during a one-day event in December to support independent retailers across the county.

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South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson has welcomed the return of Small Business Saturday, which this year takes place on Saturday, December 5.

The annual campaign, which was launched more than a decade ago, celebrates the contribution of small businesses and encourages people to shop more locally in their communities.

Mr Anderson said his South Shropshire constituency is home to over five thousand businesses, including more than 700 retailers and wholesalers that could benefit from Stuart's plan to introduce temporary free parking to mark the occasion.

In a letter to Shropshire Council calling for the plan to be implemented, Mr Anderson said his own Shop Local Survey, which received 4,500 responses from residents and business owners across South Shropshire, found that nearly fifty per cent of residents are discouraged from visiting the high street due to parking arrangements.

He said his plan would improve access to the high street and provide a much-needed boost to footfall in towns across South Shropshire.

Stuart Anderson MP said: "Small Business Saturday on December 5 is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the small businesses that are the backbone of our rural economy in South Shropshire. I hear time and again that they are facing a perfect storm with high energy bills, higher taxes, and competition from online giants.

“With footfall down 3.1% and 122,000 retail jobs lost since June 2024, we cannot afford to sit back. My Shop Local Survey showed almost half of residents are put off coming to the high street because of parking.

“A one-day free parking offer on Saturday, December 5 would remove that barrier, boost footfall, and show our small businesses that local leaders have their back. It is a small, temporary measure that could make a big difference. I hope Shropshire Council will support it."

Shropshire Council has been approached for comment.