Free afternoon parking proposed for Tauranga

The Strand Carpark. Photo/file

"Free after three" could become the new parking catchphrase in the city centre.

City councillors looked at 12 different options for parking in the city centre at a meeting yesterday, when they voted 7-3 to consider making a free parking after 3pm trial in December and January permanent.

The council first voted on whether to retain the parking status quo, the staff recommendation, which resulted in a deadlock.

The council also proposed a 25 million parking building which could be built in the Tauranga city centre within three years. Read about that plan here.

Transport manager Martin Parkes spoke at the meeting about a presentation to the council from Mainstreet Tauranga about a free parking trial.

From that, 12 options were presented to the councillors yesterday to vote on, including free parking at all times, only charging during peak hours, first two hours free and increasing pricing.

Councillors spoke of public confusion about paid parking because of numerous changes in recent years and said any new scheme needed to be simple and lasting.

What do you think? Have your say below.