In light of this, I wasn't surprised to read this statement in a Press release on the Barnet Council website from leader Mike Freer.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Freer said:
“It is essential in the current financial climate that the Council does everything within its power to discourage more residents and visitors fom shopping in the local area and we envisage that by increasing the cost of parking as Christmas is over it will decrease the footfall for local traders.”
Well there you have it. If you are a small trader, Barnet are out to get you. OK I'll own up. That isn't what Mike Freer said. He said this before Christmas.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Freer said:
“It is essential in the current financial climate that the Council does everything within its power to encourage more residents and visitors to shop in the local area and we envisage that by reducing the cost of parking as Christmas approaches it will increase the footfall for local traders.”
The trouble is that Christmas is now over. On the 4th of January, the charges reverted to the old levels. By making his statement, he has admitted that the current levels discourage shoppers and damage traders. As the "current financial climate" is no better than it was when he made his initial statement, then all he's done is taken the boot off the neck of small traders long enough for them to catch breath. The boot is now back. Parking charges in town centres urgently needs reviewing. Mike Freer has admitted this by making his statement. I know Mike enjoys reading this blog so maybe he'll give it some thought and come back with some sensible long term amendments which consider more than simply maximising the Council's parking revenues. If the Tories want to be taken seriously as the party of business, here's a good place to start with practical measures that will benefit traders and residents alike.
3 comments:
I've been very skeptical about the 'eye catching initiative' of the Christmas Parking arrangements. My skepticism was based on the effectiveness of the scheme as it stood on it's own merits. I'll be asking some questions as to how effective an initiative it was. My gut feeling is that it will turn out to be as an effective use of taxpayers money as the ludicrous VAT cut.
What has taken my breath away is the revelation in the budget headlines that the Council is to raise a similar amount of money it expended on the Christmas Parking to INCREASE parking charges next year.
Would it not have been better to have passed up on the gimmick and announce a freeze in charges for everyone for one whole year? On a political level would it not have been more popular to freeze charges for everyone for a year rather that p*ss the money down the drain for a two week gimmick?
Its little signs like this that show you the centralisation of power in the Council and the fear that the Councillors must have to challenging these ideas scribbled on serviettes after a slap up dinner.
RogT is right that parking needs a big change. As it seems to be a cash cow rather than a method of maintaining the vitality of the town centres, chances aren't looking good though.
My other half reckons that they only cut the prices at Christmas because they know they are not going to be able to empty the machines so often - holidays and so on.
He thinks this because, unusually, one of them spat £16 at him when he went to use it. Seemingly it hadn't been milked for too long and couldn't hold onto its load any longer.
The idea that people were staying away from the shops because of the parking charges just shows that the whole council are clueless, not just the leader.
If councils/government want to help businesses, lower the business rates.
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