Mixed reception for Doncaster city centre free parking trial from market traders and shoppers
Doncaster Council announced the parking trial to the delight of councillors.
Market stall holders and city centre shoppers have offered mixed perspectives on the City of Doncaster Council’s new free parking trial.
The council announced the start of the scheme on June 9, 2026, with drivers parking in seven of the authority’s city centre car parks getting their first hour free.
It will run until the end of March 2027 and was implemented as part of the Reform UK amendment to Mayor Ros Jones’ budget proposals in February 2026.
One of the seven car parks initially in the trial is the Markets Car Park, where shoppers and stall holders have offered mixed reviews.
Barry Foster runs a footwear stall on Market Place, opposite Rothwells Fish & Chips. His stall still had a poster from the 2025 Mayoral Elections on it, which read: “Want Free Parking? Vote Nick Fletcher.”
Mr Foster said he was unaware of the trial, but said “it must be a good thing”.
“If you get free parking, you can come to the market for an hour and if you want to stop for two hours you’ve only got an hour to pay,” he said.
However, the market trader didn’t think it would have a great impact on attracting people back into the city centre.
He believes the price of parking wasn’t what put people off visiting.
He said: “The problem with the city centre is there’s not a lot left in the centre now. That’s the biggest problem I think.
“Market’s gone down a lot, Marks [& Spencers] has left and others. People I used to know, who’d come, you never see them that regularly now.”
Alex, a young trader operating a stall selling Pokemon trading cards, was equally sceptical.
He said: “I hope [a free hour parking] would increase it. I don’t personally that that alone would increase the footfall.
“I think there’s quite a negativity about Doncaster Market and Doncaster town centre for shops and businesses that are here. I don’t think there’s enough that people want.”
Mark Basham was visiting the city centre to do some shopping and made full use of his free hour of parking.
He said: “I think it’s a really big improvement. I think it’s the way forward. I’d like it to be more hours, I think it’ll encourage a lot of people coming into Doncaster.
“One of the reasons people don’t tend to come into Doncaster is the parking. It’s hard to get parked up as well, but fantastic improvement and great for the town.”
Mr Basham said it would “definitely” encourage him to travel into the city centre more regularly from now on.
Whilst opinion is divided on the benefits for shoppers and footfall, staff on the market stalls were less than impressed.
Chantel works for Ben Marshall’s butchers located just across from Toppings Pie Company.
She said: “It is good to get customers in. For staff, no. It’s no good for us.”
She pointed at supermarkets, shopping centres and retail parks that offer completely free parking for customers and staff.
The trial enables motorists to get their first hour of parking free-of-charge at seven council-run car parks.
- Wood Street Car Park
- Irish Club Car Park (College Road)
- Markets Car Park
- St Georges Car Park
- Marshgate Car Parks
- Church Way Car Park
- Chamber Road Car Park
Car parks on Chappell Gate East and Wast will be included at a later date, the authority announced.
Councillor Howard Rimmer, leader of Reform UK Doncaster, called the trial a “common-sense measure”.
His party praised cross-party working, after the requirement for the free-parking trial was included in the Reform UK budget amendment at the request of the Doncaster Conservatives, as a condition of their support in a vote.
Cllr Jane Cox, chair of the South Yorkshire Conservatives and a Finningley ward representative, said: “This is a great start, Conservatives in Doncaster have been asking for this for many years. When this is a success the Mayor should consider extending the free parking to 2 hours.”
Mayor Ros Jones said: “This trial initiative will be monitored and assessed over the course of this financial year. I encourage our residents to visit our city centre, support our local businesses and Doncaster Markets.
“Every time you shop on our high streets or visit Doncaster Markets, you’re supporting local jobs, independent traders, and our community. Fresh produce, quality products, bargains to be found and friendly faces – it’s all right here on our doorstep. Shop local, support Doncaster, and enable our high streets to thrive.”