BUSINESS leaders say free parking must be provided in Bicester to protect taxpayers’ investment in the £70m town centre redevelopment.

Bicester Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to a long-running campaign for two hours’ free parking to encourage more shoppers into the town centre.

Sainsbury’s and Cherwell District Council have funded the re-development which includes a supermarket, cinema, restaurants, shops and 500 parking spaces.

On Wednesday, Cherwell confirmed Sainsbury’s had control of the new car park and said the council was negotiating with the chain over how it intended to operate it.

The chamber raised concerns after a town centre survey flagged up a series of potential challenges to its sustainability including:

  • Retail creep – shops built out of town in Launton, Telford and Murdock roads offering free parking.
  • Bicester Avenue retail expansion offering free parking.
  • Bicester Village and Tesco expansion offering free parking.
  • Perceived inconvenience of parking meters, where other places offer free parking.

Chamber president Ben Jackson said: “We have for many years pressed the local authority to change its policy on parking tariffs in the town centre.

“We now believe that they have to review this in order to protect the taxpayers’ investment in the town centre and ensure that the maximum benefits can be derived in the long term. This is no longer an issue that just impacts on traders, but on all of us who pay local council tax. They should act sooner rather than later.”

Last month, Sainsbury’s pledged to do all it could to protect its investment in the town centre after the council gave planning permission for Tesco to build a new out-of-town store despite its objections.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “To allow the town centre to compete on equal terms with existing out of centre retail developments in Bicester, we believe that free short stay parking for shoppers would be a benefit.”

Free parking campaigner Les Sibley said: “Free parking is key to the long term survival of the town centre. In my view it’s up to Sainsbury’s to make it happen.”