Days after candidates were confirmed for May’s local elections, the Conservative mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough took to social media to declare that £1.5m is already on the table to trial free parking—and that patience is wearing thin.
“FREE PARKING IN PETERBOROUGH,” he posted. “I have made £1.5 million for free parking in Peterborough and Hunts towns… Let’s get this done.”
But behind the capital letters and campaign-style messaging lies a growing frustration with the pace—and substance—of negotiations with Peterborough City Council.
‘Not quite good enough’
Bristow made clear that discussions with the Peterborough council have reached a sticking point.
“I’ve put £1.5m aside to fund free parking. Now the council have come back with an offer. I’m really grateful to them but it’s not quite good enough,” he wrote.
Rather than continue talks behind closed doors, the mayor has gone public with a fresh proposals signalling a significant shift—opening the scheme to private sector involvement.
“What I’m going to do now is… go out to procurement… That means it doesn’t just have to be council car parks,” he said. “They can still put private providers as well… to see if we can deliver a good deal for motorists in Peterborough.”
The message is clear: Bristow is no longer willing to rely solely on the city council to deliver one of his flagship pledges.
A campaign promise under pressure
Free parking has been central to Bristow’s political identity since before his election victory in 2025. He has repeatedly framed the policy as a lifeline for struggling high streets, arguing that parking charges push shoppers toward out-of-town retail parks or online alternatives.
“Free parking is a prospective shot in the arm for growth and jobs,” he said in earlier budget proposals, where he earmarked £1.5m over two years for a trial scheme.
Council tensions simmer
At the heart of the issue is a widening gap between ambition and affordability.
Labour council leader Shabina Qayyum has previously pushed back on the mayor’s approach, insisting the council has not stalled and is actively working on proposals.
She has also raised concerns about funding, noting that a full seven-day free parking scheme could cost around £3.4m—more than double the mayor’s current allocation.
“The council has not rejected or stalled his offer,” she said in earlier remarks, adding that clarity over funding commitments is essential.
The council had been exploring a scaled-down version of the scheme, designed to balance economic benefits with the reality that parking revenue currently supports essential services.
‘Fed up of waiting’
Bristow’s social media posts suggest those explanations are no longer cutting through.
His tone has hardened over months of back-and-forth discussions; at one stage, he warned publicly that if the council did not want to participate, he would move ahead regardless.
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“I am fed up of waiting, so I am going to do something about it,” he said during the earlier stages of the dispute.
Now, that “something” appears to be a procurement process that could bypass traditional council-led delivery altogether.
Private operators enter the frame
The decision to explore private parking providers marks a turning point.
While details remain thin, the move could open the door to partnerships with commercial car park operators— raising questions about how a publicly funded “free parking” scheme would operate across mixed ownership sites.
Bristow insists the approach is pragmatic rather than political.
“That’s not just the council; it can involve private operators as well. That’s the plan,” he said.
Bedford: inspiration and warning
Bristow has long pointed to Bedford as proof that free parking can revitalise town centres, praising its Conservative-led initiative offering four hours of free parking.
But that model has also exposed risks. Rising costs and funding pressures forced Bedford to suspend free parking at two major car parks, highlighting the financial balancing act councils must navigate.
The lesson is not lost on critics, who argue that enthusiasm must be matched by sustainable funding.
Political stakes rising
The mayor, for his part, shows no sign of backing down.
His latest posts double as both policy update and campaign message: the money is there, the plan is evolving, and the delay—he suggests—lies elsewhere.
What happens next?
The next phase will be crucial.
If the procurement process attracts viable private partners, Bristow could push forward with a pilot scheme independent of full city council backing. If not, pressure may mount to return to the negotiating table.
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Either way, the clock is ticking—not just on the proposed trial, but on a political promise that has come to define his tenure.
For now, one thing is certain: the battle over free parking in Peterborough is far from over.
