The four-hour free parking scheme at two of Bedford town centre’s main multi-storey car parks will be suspended next month as Bedford Borough Council responds to rising costs and reduced government funding.
From Monday, 3 November 2025, free parking at Allhallows and Lurke Street car parks will be temporarily halted.
The Council says the move is part of broader efforts to stabilise its finances amid what it describes as “significant financial pressure” caused by increased demand for services such as adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation, alongside a 25 per cent reduction in government funding.
Difficult decision
Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said the decision was a “difficult but responsible” step to help protect essential services.
“This isn’t a decision I wanted to make, but one I have been forced to make due to the serious financial pressures facing the Council,” he said.
“Free parking has been good for our town and local businesses, and I remain fully committed to bringing it back to Allhallows and Lurke Street multi-storey car parks when the Borough’s finances allow.
“Right now, my priority must be to protect essential services and the residents who rely on them most.”
Cllr Marc Frost (Conservative, Wixams), Portfolio Holder for Finance, added that the decision was “financially responsible” given the council’s “extremely challenging” budget position.
“The Council’s financial position remains under severe strain, with rising costs and reduced Government funding,” he said. “Suspending the free parking scheme will help ease this pressure and protect frontline services.”
Some free parking remains
Cllr Andrea Spice (Conservative, Wixams), Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning & Prosperity, said that two hours of free parking will still be available at Queen Street multi-storey car park, as well as at many council-run car parks on Sundays.
“While it’s disappointing that the four-hour free parking scheme has been suspended, we remain fully committed to supporting Bedford’s town centre and local businesses,” she said.
“Bedford has so much to offer – great boutique shops, markets and events – and we’ll continue working with local traders and partners to bring more people into town.”
Council finances
The change follows comments made by the mayor last week, when he said free parking was “popular with everyone apart from opposition councillors” and that “everything is in the mix” as next year’s budget is developed.
Green cllr Ben Foley (Greyfriars) warned that proposals to increase council tax would impact the most vulnerable households, while they subsidise free parking.
The parking suspension forms part of a wider review of discretionary spending as the council works to maintain essential services and avoid deeper cuts.
Mayor Wootton said the scheme would be reviewed and reintroduced once the borough’s financial position improves.
In July, the Bedford Independent exclusively revealed that Bedford Borough Council has been warned it is already in “Section 114 territory”, the point at which a council effectively declares itself unable to set a balanced budget.
That is, unless urgent action is taken to halt overspending and rebuild reserves.
Read: Bedford Borough Council told to tighten spending and boost income to avoid Section 114 notice
A review by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) says that the council must impose tighter spending controls, enhance financial accountability, recover unpaid debts, review capital commitments, and utilise fees and charges more effectively.
Read: Report says Bedford Borough Council must take urgent action to avoid bankruptcy
The Mayor addressed what he called ‘financial headwinds’ facing the Borough Council in his Bedford Independent column this week.
Read: With unity and honesty, we can steer Bedford through these financial headwinds
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
With additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
