Surprise surprise! West Wales town where all the parking meters have been out of action for a month sees shopping boomAfter thieves smashed all four parking machines in Cardigan’s main car parks last month, custom in local stores soared by up to half.
This week at a meeting of Cardigan Town Council, traders queued up to recount how the destruction of the pay-and-display machines had led to the unexpected windfall.
‘I’ve seen trade go up by around 20 per cent but some businesses have seen an increase of 50 per cent, which is not only good for the traders but it helps make Cardigan a thriving place.
‘People who have enjoyed free parking at supermarkets are finding they prefer going to small, independent shops which offer goods of a far better quality. People are staying longer and spending more. They feel more relaxed not having to worry about their cars.
‘It demonstrates what we’ve been saying for years: if you have lower parking fees, or even no fees, then people will come into town.’http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3163067/Surprise-surprise-North-Wales-town-parking-meters-action-month-sees-shopping-boom.htmlhttp://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php/topic,5593.0.html------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council leader Councillor Liz Redfern said: "The two-hour free parking has been received with open arms by many traders and shoppers in the town centre.
We have received some very positive feedback.
"We have seen an increase in the footfall in the town centre over the past few weeks – making the scheme a great success. This shows our commitment to Scunthorpe town centre to make it a thriving shopping centre."
http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php?topic=4025.0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/parking_review/news/?id=39059&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterFree Saturday MSCP parking boosts Northampton retailThe introduction of free Saturday parking at Northampton’s multi-storey car parks has been judged a success, with more shoppers visiting the town
according to figures from Northampton Borough Council.In the three months since the introduction of free parking, 23,000 more cars have parked in the council’s multi-storeys on Saturdays, compared with before the offer, the council said.[/i]
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http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/poll_tendring_district_s_free_parking_in_town_centres_boosting_high_street_according_to_council_chiefs_1_3687793Tendring district’s free parking in town centres boosting high street according to council chiefs[/b]
A popular free parking permit scheme has contributed significantly to the health of Tendring’s high streetsNew figures have revealed only 4.4% of shops in Dovercourt are empty, 4.8% in Frinton and 7.5% in Clacton. The national average is 13.4%.
Council chiefs say the Tendring parking scheme – set up in 2012 to offer every tax paying household in the district a free parking permit – has been a key factor in supporting local high streets.[/i]
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David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: "As has been seen in many town centres across the country, footfall figures have been steadily declining and we are pleased to now be bucking the trend.
"Shoppers and businesses alike told us they wanted free parking and we responded. The free parking scheme has proved extremely popular and helped to bring more people into Northampton to enjoy the town centre."http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-31147359------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/06/13/sunday-parking-charges-in-wolverhampton-rake-in-1140/"Yes these new charges have raised some money but they have probably done more damage to businesses in the city...
...Mr Sharma said since the new charges were brought in, some businesses had complained of a drop in footfall.
"Although these charges are understandable, it is like they are scoring an own goal," he added.
POLL
Would Sunday parking charges put you off shopping in town centres?
Yes: 90.12%
No: 9.88%------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rotherham-showing-the-way-to-revitalise-a-high-streetHigh Streets Minister Brandon Lewis and retail expert Mary Portas visit thriving Rotherham high street.Easier parking to help town centres
Independent experts have warned that aggressive parking policies are harming local high streets and local shops. We are getting rid of aggressive parking policies by changing the previous approach of setting parking fees to discourage car use and provide ‘maximum’ parking levels.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bedford Council announces 2% increase in High St footfall after offering free parkinghttps://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/archived_news/february_2016/footfall_figures.aspxSee:
http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php?topic=5911.0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walsall [parking] charge cuts double visits [to council car parks]The reduction in long-stay parking fees in Walsall town centre has resulted in an almost doubling of drivers parking in the council's car parks. The cut was announced in November 2012 as part of a drive to make the town more attractive.
Council deputy leader, Adrian Andrew said: "There's no question that this move has been a success and has been popular with motorists, shoppers and Walsall town centre businesses.
We have listened to what people have been telling us and we've reduced the cost of parking in order to help our mission of creating and safeguarding jobs."
http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php/topic,3062.msg23235.html#msg23235------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Councillor Jones added: "We wish to set charges for parking which reflect local pressures and needs. The Council should also look to make car parking charges cost neutral and no longer fund our services.
"Conversations with businesses and local people since that date
as well as research have shown that accessible, affordable and attractive parking places encourage people to shop in towns.http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/10312/council-to-consult-over-parking-charges-but-not-in-wilmslow-yethttp://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php/topic,4542.0.html------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://thelatest.co.uk/brighton/2014/08/06/brighton-businesses-celebrate-parking-charge-u-turn/When parking charges were introduced in one Brighton street little did traders know it would cost them thousands of pounds in just a few weeks.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/11153191._We_won_t_bother_now____shoppers_vow_to_boycott_shopping_park_after_new_parking_rules/POLL
Will you continue to shop in Borehamwood under the changed parking system?
Yes 11%
No 89%[/b][/color]
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http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/northallerton/11369074.Parking_fees_killing_town_centre__say_traders/?ref=twtrecFURIOUS business owners say new parking charges in Northallerton are killing the town centre – with some reporting losses of up to 40 per cent in revenue since their introduction.
One trader, Caz Pring, owner of craft and wool shop Paperlane, on Friarage Street, said her takings are down more than 40 per cent in the month since the introduction.
“In six months time, if things continue the way it’s going, I’ll be gone; I’ll be out of business,” she said.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year’s introduction of free parking in the north of Northumberland has been successful, according to a new report.A report to yesterday’s meeting of Northumberland County Council’s communities and local services committee stated that ‘free parking has been successfully implemented and
in the main has been positively received and in general has increased footfall and trade in town centres’.Regarding Alnwick, it reported a 10 per cent increase in town-centre trade and stated: ‘Businesses and visitors are generally positive and free parking continues to be well-received. Car parks seem to be well used with few spaces available during the day in some all-day car parks.
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Brandon Lewis in Hansard: Research by the Association of Town and City Management has shown that there is a clear relationship between parking provision and high street footfall.
Mary Portas' independent review on high street policy has also noted:
“The ease with which out-of-town retailing can be reached by car means that high streets do not have the luxury of pretending that car-based access is not convenient for shoppers. It is. And yet in many town centres I have visited for this review parking has been run-down, in an inconvenient place, and most significantly really expensive.”
This Government have already:
Scrapped the Whitehall policy that pressured councils to hike car parking charges as a ‘demand management measure’ to discourage car use (the Labour Government's ‘PPG13’);http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140312/text/140312w0002.htm------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parking enforcement officers working for APCOA were only too happy to help promote St Helens Council’s free Saturday parking offer during the run up to the festive season.
They’re right behind the council’s bid to generate increased footfall and support the town centre.Council Leader Barrie Grunewald said: “Everyone in the borough wants to see a successful town centre.
Free parking on Saturdays is already giving our retailers a big helping hand, with more and more people appreciating the convenience – and cost benefits – of shopping locally.”
http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/newsroom/2014/12/02/free-parking-for-shoppers!/
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Shoppers stopped by parking fine fears
The fear of running out of time on a pay and display parking ticket could be forcing consumers to cut short their Christmas shopping trips,
according to research.
http://www.expressandstar.com/business/uk-money/2015/12/14/shoppers-stopped-by-parking-fine-fears/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/heavy-handed-parking-fines-a30-camberley-6325093“I will not be spending another penny in this town until something is done about this deliberate profiteering.”...
...“Can it be any wonder Camberley is being turned into a ghost town?”------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.droitwichadvertiser.co.uk/news/yourview/10711536.Parking_fines/LAST Sunday, we decided to come into town for lunch. The usual desolated and dying image of the High Street awaited us as we parked in one of the council-run car parks and paid £1 for the privilege...
...No wonder we have been minimising our visits to the High Street and believe me, from now on, we will chose to eat somewhere where we don’t have to worry about a disproportionate parking fine.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brandon Lewis in Hansard:If parking is too expensive or difficult, shoppers will simply drive to out of town supermarkets or just shop online, undermining the vitality of town centres and leading to ‘ghost town’ high streets.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140710/text/140710w0003.htm#14071078000139------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------