Two-year respite, but parking charges still looming on horizon

THERE was an initial sigh of relief when the long-awaited recommendations of the East Riding Council's car parking review panel were published recently.

The panel called for a two-year freeze on implementing any of its proposals because of the impact of the recession.

It also stressed that, even after two years, there needs to be two successive quarters of positive growth in GDP before they are put into practice.

The panel's suggestion of a free half-hour period of parking in short-stay sites where motorists currently don't pay anything was another concession.

These include places such as Anlaby, Cottingham, Hessle, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and Willerby.

But the fact remains that charging is still on the horizon.

Martin Cuthbert, East Yorkshire branch chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), is unimpressed.

He said: "Despite the resounding 'no' from local communities to the prospect of having to pay to leave their vehicles at previously free council-run car parks across the East Riding, the council is still pursuing a stealthy plan to impose car parking charges.

"The original parking charges proposal was rejected by the county's three MPs, businesses and the community at large.

"MPs affirmed that parking charges would cause severe damage to the fabric of the community, 25,000 people signed a petition and business leaders said the charges would heap more pain on firms already struggling to survive.

"Traders are demanding to know what's different this time around."

Mr Cuthbert said the FSB's views on the issue remained unchanged, despite the panel's revised recommendations.

"Free access to town centres is essential in these car-dependent times if the independent retail sector is to survive.

"Nationally, 135,000 small retail firms stand on the very brink of extinction.

"The number that survive and the number that fail will be determined by the length and depth of the recession, but the council's parking proposals will only add to their woes," he added.

Mr Cuthbert said introducing parking charges, however small, would simply drive shoppers elsewhere.

"If we are to retain our vibrant, clean and appealing town centres, it is imperative to maintain high footfall so businesses remain viable, providing amenity, jobs and wealth-creation."

Links

East Riding Council

www.eastriding.gov.uk

Federation of Small Businesses

www.fsb.org.uk