Free parking to support city center businesses: this is the solution imagined by the town of Carnon, in Hérault. It was a campaign promise of the new mayor, who was elected. A 500-space car park will therefore become free, which should benefit tourism.
This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full.
Arriving in the city center of Carnon (Hérault), on the morning of Monday April 6, a good surprise for a resident. The parking meters are covered, and she can park in a 500-space car park for free. “Especially since it was still quite expensive, 1.60 euros. It was starting to add up to a small amount. Because here we just come to play in the park with the little one,” she comments. Tourists have spent the night here, they won’t pay a cent. “It’s true that we are a little surprised, we saw that everything was free, so we took advantage of it, we came here. Then finally, we even came to sleep here,” they explain.
Since April 1 in Carnon, free parking in this city car park has been extended all year round for a maximum of 48 hours. On the port, regulars who have coffee in a restaurant every morning will now be able to park right next to it. “We paid for an hour or two hours that we stayed, whereas here we will have free parking for 500 spaces, that’s important,” said Michel Gardais, a resident of Carnon.
Same enthusiasm for the manager, who hopes to benefit from a new clientele of tourists. “For the economic fabric it’s perfect. You can go to the beaches for free, you can go and enjoy the shops in the port for free… It’s perfect,” rejoices Stéphane Moaty, vice-president of the Carnon traders’ association.
But free access is not extended throughout the city. In certain car parks, it will be limited to two hours. So tourists wonder: is it enough to take advantage of the beachside shops? “When we’re at the beach, two hours, if we have children or anything, it’s still a bit limited. Especially since the business revolves around the beach. So why not take three hours, or half a day,” says a man.
But in the seaside resort, parking brings in more than 2.5 million euros to the municipality each year. The mayor (Various right) of Mauguio-Carnon (Hérault), Pierre-Martin Chazot Mayor, just elected, hopes to limit losses. “The dynamic will be revived at the level of traders, at the level of the city’s influence. So effectively, we are losing some revenue on this town entrance car park, which we will gain on the dynamism and influence of the seaside resort,” comments the latter. The town of Carnon goes from 3,800 inhabitants per year to more than 30,000 in the summer.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
