A new short-stay parking layout is being introduced on Commercial Road as Swindon Borough Council tests changes designed to encourage quick visits into the town centre and reduce pavement parking.
Earlier this week, workers installed new parking bays along the street, changing the layout of the one-way road from two traffic lanes to a single lane with parking.
The scheme will create space for more than 35 vehicles, along with two dedicated disabled bays. Under the plans, drivers will be able to park free for up to 20 minutes, while the disabled bays will allow blue badge holders to stay for up to one hour.
Council leaders say the aim is to make it easier for people to stop briefly to visit local shops, collect items or run errands without needing to use longer-stay car parks.
The changes will initially run on an experimental basis for up to 18 months, with signage explaining the new parking rules due to be installed from Wednesday, 11 March.
However, the rollout has already prompted discussion among traders after the bays appeared before signs were in place.
Commercial Road shop owner Marcus Kitteridge said the lack of signage had initially left businesses unsure how the new parking would operate.
He said traders had raised those concerns with the local councillor and the council’s parking team, adding that they hope the shorter 20-minute limit will help ensure the bays are used mainly for quick visits to nearby businesses.
The move comes amid wider debate about parking across Swindon.
Businesses in both Old Town and the town centre have repeatedly raised concerns about wider changes to parking policy across the area. Last month, Swindon Borough Council approved increases to parking charges for Old Town which will see the first hour rise from 90p to £1.70 and two hours increase from £1.20 to £3, prompting criticism from many traders who fear the changes could discourage short visits to independent shops and cafés.
Businesses in Old Town also questioned the decision to cap most short-stay car parks at four hours, arguing that it conflicts with the council’s stated goal of encouraging longer visits. Others highlighted that the proposals did little to address ongoing evening parking issues in Old Town, where restaurants, theatres and live music venues rely heavily on night-time visitors. Traders warned that if parking becomes confusing or perceived as expensive, people may choose retail parks or other destinations instead.
The new Commercial Road layout appears designed to address that issue by prioritising high-turnover parking for short stops, rather than longer stays.
A public consultation will open on 18th March, running for the first six months of the trial period. Feedback from residents, drivers and businesses will help determine whether the changes should become permanent.
I welcome the attempt to support quick visits into the town centre, but this trial on Commercial Road seems too limited and may create new problems.
First, 20 minutes of free parking is unlikely to be enough for many town-centre visits. It may work for very brief pick-ups on Commercial Road itself, but it does little for people who want to browse, visit more than one shop, or use nearby businesses that need longer dwell times.
Second, reducing the road to a narrow single traffic lane with parking on both sides appears to create congestion and safety issues. Drivers are dealing with vehicles pulling in and out, doors opening, pedestrians crossing, and traffic waiting behind stopped cars. That combination risks making Commercial Road slower and less safe rather than more convenient.
Third, this feels like a very narrow answer to a much wider town-centre parking problem. Businesses have been asking for simpler, more welcoming parking arrangements for years. Replacing previous free provision with a 20-minute trial bay system does not meet that need.
If the council genuinely wants to support local trade, it should use the consultation to consider a more practical mix of short-stay free parking and affordable longer-stay options across the wider town centre, not just one street.