Fears for high street business as council reduces free parking Village shopkeepers claim half-hour grace period will keep customers at bay
TRADERS in a Midland village fear new parking charges could destroy business. Cash-strapped Solihull Council had agreed in July that free parking in Knowle would be reduced to half an hour, with a new fees regime ushered in to help ease the pressure on the transport and highways budget.
As part of the shake-up later this month, it will cost 20p to park between 30 minutes and an hour and 40p between one and two hours.
But outlets, who had urged the local authority to retain a 60-minute “free and display” period, are concerned about the impact the changes could have.
Speaking this week, business owners said that the village centre, which has a high number of independent stores, was already grappling with rising rents and increased competition from neighbouring Dorridge.
David Lyons, of family-run Eric Lyons butchers feared that the parking arrangements could have a “catastrophic” impact and said it was something a number of customers had raised concerns about.
“They come into Knowle for a pleasurable experience; to go to two or three shops, have a coffee. Half an hour won’t give them the chance to do that.
“Within that time-frame most people hop in for a newspaper and pint of milk. It’s not encouraging people to spend more time at the shops.”
He added: “Retail is tough and it is hard at the moment. We just need a bit of support and by increasing parking charges, it’s certainly not going to help.”
Nino Barbieri, of Toni Barbieri Men’s Hairdressing, had similar concerns and said the changes did not make sense.
He said: “We really need to be encouraging the shoppers to come and use the shops in Knowle, but these charges are really going to have an effect.”
His business has been trading in Knowle for the past 25 years and he argued that many firms were already having to cope with increased overheads.
David Aitchison, who runs David Aitchison Menswear just down the road, is worried the charges brought in for visits between 30 minutes and two hours would prove to be the thin end of the wedge, with further increases to follow.
Martyn Hurdley has been a partner in Carly’s, a shop which sells cards, giftware and other items, since 2001.
“Half an hour is hardly anything. You can find yourself stopping to chat to someone in the High Street for that amount of time,” he said. “It’s just a money raiser isn’t it.”
Mr Hurdley, who is born and bred recently quit Solihull’s Conservative group to sit as an independent, had argued strongly for a more generous free and display period. He feared that once people decided to go elsewhere it would be difficult to tempt them back.
“Once they have decided not to come back to the village then that’s obviously a concern,” he said.
He was also worried that the times the charges would apply meant that the changes would place a disproportionate burden on day-time traders.
Making the decision some six weeks ago, Cllr Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, highlighted the financial pressures facing his department.
“In the last five years [my department] has had to find something like just over £2 million in savings. I’m charged this year to come up with £571,000 worth of savings,” he said at the time.
“The council has finite resources and the situation we are faced with is that we have to make difficult decisions of this nature.”
Solihull Council confirmed this week that the new fees would come into effect in Knowle on September 28. in Solihull, said that he had counted eight empty premises during a recent walk through the village and suggested that the loss in business rates revenue should be cause for concern for the council.
Solihull Council’s original decision to do away with free parking altogether had been revisited in July following the backlash in the local community. A survey of more than 70 traders found clear support for the option of retaining an hour-long window, but it was 30 minutes’ free parking which was ultimately rubber-stamped.
Councillor Alan
Retail is tough and it is hard at the moment. We just need a bit of support Butcher David Lyons
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