INDEPENDENT traders in Hereford have called on the county council to extend free parking for a couple of months to help them recover as the lockdown is eased.

Herefordshire Council is reintroducing parking charges on June 15 but many shop owners say this will discourage people from shopping in town.

Angela Siemieniuk, owner of Hat Trick in East Street, said suspending parking charges until the end of August would help small businesses recover from the lockdown.

“We are all a bit nervous and edgy,” she said.

“We aren’t expecting to be as busy as we would be and many retailers are expected to go straight into discount having stock sat there for three months doing nothing.

“We’ve struggled like anything and now, when we are trying to encourage shoppers to come back out, they reintroduce the parking charges.”

Fashion shop owner Cherry Savidge agreed.

“We need a few months grace to get everybody back into trading again and make life a bit easier for us,” she said.

“They need to encourage people to come back into town and do as much encouragement as they can certainly for the next three or four months.”

Artisan bakery owner David Nizi said the council could consider allowing up to 30 minutes for free.

“Re-introducing parking charges immediately might affect how people shop. The concern is that some people might be put off to just come to the bakery to collect their order because of this.”

Infrastructure and transport cabinet member John Harrington said the charges were suspended for key workers and those going about their essential business during lockdown.

He said: “As we return to work, there will inevitably be an increase in car traffic, and it is therefore more important than ever that we park considerately and comply with parking regulations to ensure goods and services can be delivered, and parking spaces are available to all.”