The proposed changes would remove the parking bays on the northern side of Commercial Road while keeping those on the southern side.
The plans form part of a review of the experimental traffic scheme introduced earlier this year. The scheme created 35 free short-stay parking spaces to encourage quick visits to businesses while also tackling long-standing pavement parking problems.
The Conservative administration has backed the changes after Reform UK has tabled a motion at Full Council calling for alterations to the layout following its own survey of residents, businesses and road users.
Labour has criticised the decision, accusing the Conservatives of allowing Reform UK to shape transport policy.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky said:
“It’s really sad to see the Conservatives obediently dance to Reform’s tune.
“These changes are being rushed through on the back of a few angry Facebook comments rather than proper evidence-based changes worked through with the Highways team.
“There is nothing in these proposals that will address the pavement parking issues and no evidence of meaningful consultation with residents. Why is someone who lives in a village in Oxfordshire proposing parking changes for Swindon?
“We should be doing meaningful consultation with residents and businesses, not letting Reform tell the Tories what to do in exchange for votes.”
The Conservative administration has said it supports removing the northern parking bays because of visibility and road safety concerns. It has also insisted it remains committed to retaining free short-stay parking to support nearby businesses.
The proposals have also prompted concern from business owners and landlords, who say the free parking has encouraged more people to stop in the town centre.
Commercial Road property owner Ash Khan Zuberi said he believed removing the spaces would make the situation worse.
“What an absolutely ridiculous situation,” he said.
“This was such a great idea for that road and it was working perfectly well.
“The gap between the cars parked and what’s left is huge and it isn’t causing that much traffic.
“This was such a positive idea for the businesses around the area. People could just stop quickly, fly in, get what they needed and go home.
“Now they have to pay some ridiculous fee into the car park and you know what? They are just going to start parking up on the pavement again.
“I don’t understand why people can’t grasp how this is helping Swindon local businesses.”
Laura James, Chair of the Shadow Swindon BID Board, also questioned the proposed changes.
“This is short-sighted and potentially very damaging for the local businesses who are already suffering,” she said.
“Just as the area is starting to see some revival and new businesses opening, we should be encouraging footfall and visitors, and this decision will present yet another barrier.”
The debate over Commercial Road comes amid wider changes to parking across Swindon.
This has happened as parking charges in town centre and Old Town have increased for the first 2 hours. A new four-hour maximum stay was also introduced in many short-stay car parks.
Supporters of the Commercial Road scheme have argued the free 20-minute parking bays were designed not only to discourage pavement parking but also to offset the wider parking changes by encouraging quick visits to local businesses.
