UK trade show Spring & Autumn Fair has today launched a new national campaign calling for a minimum of 90 minutes of free parking in town and city centres across England.
Launching under the banner ‘Support Free Parking. Back Local Businesses. Bring People Back’, the campaign centres on a parliamentary petition urging local authorities to view parking as part of a wider strategy to increase footfall, support independent businesses and strengthen local economies.
The campaign has been developed from ‘Voices of Retail’, Spring & Autumn Fair’s annual research programme produced in partnership with wholesale platform Faire.
Drawing on the views of retailers and consumers across the UK, the latest findings uncovered that 38% of independent retailers believe free parking would have the greatest positive impact on their business, while 63% of consumers say it would encourage them to visit town and city centres more often.
Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director at Spring & Autumn Fair, said: “Retailers aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking us to remove one of the practical barriers that both businesses and shoppers believe is discouraging visits to our town centres.
“For years we’ve talked about saving the high street. Perhaps it’s time we started talking more about making it easier for people to use it. If retailers, shoppers, local authorities and industry partners all get behind practical changes like this, together we can help create town centres that people choose to visit again and again.
“When retailers and consumers independently arrive at the same conclusion, I don’t think we should ignore it; we should act.”
The research also highlights the opportunity facing Britain’s high streets, as almost all consumers (95%) say they would spend more if their local high street offered a better mix of shops, while 96% want to see more independent retailers alongside cafés, bakeries and other “experiences” that encourage them to spend longer in town centres.
The findings suggest people want to support local businesses when high streets are easy to access, enjoyable to visit and “offer compelling reasons to stay”.
The aim of the petition is to reach 100,000 signatures by 23 January 2027, and those wishing to add their support can do so at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/772686.
Alongside the petition, retailers across the country are being invited to join the campaign through a dedicated Retailer Toolkit, including window posters, QR code till stickers, social media graphics and digital assets, enabling businesses to encourage their customers to sign and share the petition.
Trade associations, suppliers, local business groups and industry organisations are also being encouraged to support the campaign and help build momentum.
Additionally, the next Autumn Fair, running from 6-9 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, will also encourage retailers and industry insiders to back the petition.