Raising parking charges won't help economy
Why, at a time when businesses are struggling, does Chichester District Council even have increased parking charges on its agenda?
Just how would this help support our local shops and services?
Evidently a 3m deficit in council funds needs to be plugged. Increased car-parking charges is an option, as is Sunday parking charges, or imposing a charge on free rural car parks. Apparently such measures could raise 250,000 – but at what price?
Parking charges in some car parks in the centre of Chichester have only just risen to 1 an hour. It's a city that boasts some cracking independent businesses, shops and attractions, so surely CDC should be doing everything possible to entice visitors?
Cranking up the parking charges will divert people to supermarkets, where parking is free and the in-store prices often cheaper.
And what of places like Midhurst and Petworth? The introduction of parking charges in these magnificent market towns would have dire consequences. And it's not just CDC. Sunday parking is currently free within the Chichester district, but if you fancy a Sunday trip to Bognor or Arundel and plan to use an ADC car park, they too will charge you for the privilege of trying to support the local economy.
The only exception seems to be two hours free on a Sunday at the Lyon Street car park in Bognor.
CDC leader Myles Cullen says we must cut our cloth according to these economically-challenging times, but raising or initiating parking charges will give the council only a short-term injection of cash. The long-term effects could prove devastating to local businesses. And therein, in my view, lies a part solution.
Instead of raising funds from parking, why not impose a levy on the multi-billion businesses that have played their part in the demise of our local shops?
As supermarkets continue to publish record profits, it seems only fair they put more into the pot to support the authorities which have allowed them to open stores in the area. A harsh suggestion? Surely better than discouraging visitors from our town and city centres.
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Weather for Chichester
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
