​Hereford BID (Business Improvement District) says this risks damaging the city centre at a time when both businesses and consumers are already under severe pressure, and is urging Herefordshire Council to rethink the idea. And while welcoming the free half-hour “pop and shop” parking due to come in at the same time, the BID is calling instead for an hour’s free parking in all council car parks, along with 30 minutes’ free on-street parking in the ten Hereford streets where parking is metered. “It seems grossly unfair that Hereford shoppers must pay to park on-street when, for many years, market towns have benefited from free parking,” Hereford BID chief executive Mike Truelove said. “On-street charges and above-inflation increases are hurting Hereford at a time when businesses need all the help they can get.” The council has said it aims to raise £900,000 more from parking in the coming financial year as part of plans to make up the coming shortfall in funding from central government. But Mr Truelove said it was “pointless” for the council to rely on car parking revenue “when the High Street is competing directly with online shopping and footfall is already heavily down”. And in Herefordshire, shoppers can simply drive to market towns for cheaper or free parking, the BID points out – a point recently reinforced by council leader Jonathan Lester when he ruled out any discussion of on-street parking charges elsewhere in the county. The Change.org petition can be found here. Mr Truelove added that while the 30 minutes’ free parking in car parks is welcome, it “won’t change behaviour in any measurable way”. “People need time to browse, spend money and enjoy our fantastic city,” he said.