Plans for a heralded free parking scheme in Aberdeen could be scrapped after new data revealed that it did not improve footfall in the city centre.
The brakes may now be put on the £80,000 Alive at Five initiative which was launched as a trial in October.
Motorists were being offered free parking at many local authority and shopping centre car parks after 5pm.
But a new report has now suggested that the scheme did not improve visitor numbers to the city centre and has recommended that parking charges are now reintroduced.
The paper to be presented to next week’s operational delivery committee, said the scheme did not have “any impact” and notes that footfall was down 10% on last year.
The report reads: “The data does not demonstrate that the parking aspect of the Alive at Five initiative had any impact on incentivising footfall into Aberdeen city.
“Footfall is lower at all counter locations for the period between October and December 2018 than from the previous year.”
Council operational delivery convener John Wheeler said the “figures speak for themselves”.
He added: “We obviously trialled it and officers have come back with recommendations based on the data obtained that it has not really been successful.”
Opposition SNP operations spokeswoman Jackie Dunbar said: “Unlike the SNP, the administration removed the scheme from their budget on Tuesday so it’s clear that the Alive at Five scheme has already been stopped dead in its tracks by the Tories.
“Given (council co-leader) councillor Lumsden previously referred to this as a key measure of support for city centre businesses you would have thought he would have allowed the scheme more time to succeed as it has in other cities.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of city centre business body Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We continue to work with businesses and Aberdeen City Council to explore options for further developing our wider Alive at Five strategy.
“Part of that discussion will be on how we continue to draw more people into the city centre in the evening, and that will include those who choose to bring their vehicle.
“This includes introducing the first evening and night-time economy manager in the country to stimulate our ‘night-time’ offering, Aberdeen Restaurant Week, Inspired Nights on the Green and our growing cultural events.”
