Businesses in call for 'fairer' parking costs (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Businesses in call for 'fairer' parking costs

BUSINESS leaders in west Wiltshire believe car parking charges need to be 'equitable, fairer and customer-friendly'.

The Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce has put forward ideas on how parking charges should shape up as West Wiltshire District Council's new cabinet orders a rethink.

Controversy erupted after charges rocketed from £1.80 to £3.50 a day in April.

After last month's cabinet coup, the new Lib Dem, Labour and Independent ruling alliance ordered a review of charges across the district.

The council will also reconsider the decriminalisation of parking, which could see council parking attendants monitoring street parking and issuing fines, instead of the police.

Charging ideas put forward by the Wessex Association include scrapping the one-hour free period operated in selected car parks, and bringing in a standard charge of 30p an hour.

Under the suggestions a five-day season permit would cost £30 a month and £300 for a year and the allocation of spaces for long and short-term parking would be overhauled.

Business leaders believe this system would be fairer for both shoppers and workers, who under the present system face paying nearly £20 a week to park.

Mike Williams, association chief executive, said the present £3.50 a day charge was unacceptable.

"As a result of this policy we are seeing a detrimental impact on businesses and people who park in car parks long term," he said.

"We are conscious the council needs to raise revenue but we are hopeful and heartened by the fact they are going to have a rethink.

"Retailers are saying trade is down and the streets are quieter."

Mr Williams said the charges had exacerbated a downward trend in retail activity nationwide, with shoppers and workers losing out. Cllr Jeff Osborn, cabinet member responsible for car parking, said the rethink could take up to two months.

Corporate strategy officer Ian Gallin has been asked to look at parking charges and decriminalisation as one issue.

Cllr Osborn said: "If we have no traffic wardens and the police won't do the job then the district council will have to look to enforcing parking laws itself.

"You can't look at this issue in separate bits. The decision was made by the last administration not to proceed with decriminalisation. It is now like turning a supertanker around.

"We are not going to see anything for a couple of months."

Talking about the document put forward by the Wessex Association, he said: "I welcome the suggestions put forward and if anyone else has any please put them in.

"There is obviously not going to be free car parking as we have to get revenue of nearly £100,000 or else people will have to pay that amount through council tax."