RETAIL expert Mary Portas has praised Swindon Council’s move to cut town centre car parking charges in an official report on saving Britain’s high streets.

Ms Portas, the star of TV show Mary Queen of Shops, was commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg to lead an independent review into the future of town centres.

Ms Portas outlines plans for cutting regulations for high street traders and the launch of a national market day, as well as further empowering Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), such as inSwindon.

Having affordable town centre parking is another key recommendation to improve access – and Swindon is mentioned as a case study.

Last December, the council reduced car parking in the town centre to £2 for four hours. The change was originally due to last six months, but was so successful that it was made permanent.

Deputy council leader Garry Perkins, who is responsible for town centre regeneration, said: “It’s good that our decision is being held up as the way to go.

“As always, Swindon looks to take the lead as we have in many other areas, and it’s good to see that nationally people agree with us. And Mary Portas, after all, has been taken on by the Government to look at retail shopping so for her to agree that Swindon got it right just underlines that decision.

“Lower car parking has given more footfall, more spending in the shops, more jobs in the retail trade in the town centre, and Swindon is bucking the national trend on footfall.”

Council leader Rod Bluh said the council would discuss the report with its partners and consider whether Swindon should implement any of the recommendations.

He said: “I think one of the things the report did say that accords with our thinking is town centres aren’t just about retail, they have to be about destinations and they have to be about leisure as well.”

Simon Jackson, chief executive of inSwindon, said he and the Association of Town Centre Management welcomed the report.

“There are lots of bits in there which I absolutely support: the concept of BIDs being given the proper priority, as well as town centre managers where they’re still in place, and the proper support to ensure what we do goes even further,” he said.