"Car parking charges in Coventry set to be cut"

[dutchman]

Coventry City Council leaders are set to cut parking charges following widespread concern about the recession-hit city centre’s decline.



It follows calls from traders and opposition politicians for emergency measures to boost flagging trade.

Labour leaders at Coventry City Council are now proposing a range of temporary measures for some car parks for eight months, starting next month.

They say it will help the city centre in the economic downturn, and during disruption caused by current building work expected to last until May next year.

A £7million revamp includes pedestrianising a larger Broadgate as an events space to mark Olympic year 2012 – when Olympic football comes to the Ricoh.

The Telegraph revealed last week Coventry has slipped to a lowly 71st in one survey of UK shopping performance, despite being the 11th largest city – behind towns such as Solihull, Worcester and Northampton.

A report by officers to councillors states “doing nothing” could see the city centre losing more shoppers to other towns and cities – including rivals Birmingham and Leicester, which are both in the UK top ten.

We have also revealed one in ten shops now lie empty, and there has been a 2.7 per cent drop in footfall since last year.

Opposition Tory councillor Kevin Foster claimed the new proposals are a response to Conservative pressure.

They had submitted a “Save Our City Centre” e-petition calling for a free parking and transport scheme for shoppers spending £10.

It had first been lodged by Labour backbencher councillor Bally Singh.

But it was withdrawn by Labour council deputy leader George Duggins, who said such a scheme could not be afforded.

The new proposals expected to be approved next week by Labour councillor Linda Bigham, city development cabinet member, fall short of those proposals.

They include:

* A free parking promotion for Christmas.

* Weekend fee cuts in some long-stay car parks.

* New weekly £10 and monthly £40 parking permits for four long-stay car parks – Bishop Street, Gosford Street, Grove Street and Whitefriars Street.

Christmas free parking would be available at all council-operated car parks after 4pm for Wednesday late night shopping evenings, from November 23, the same as recent years.

The weekend shoppers’ tariff from November until June will cut charges for medium to long-stay parking of between two and six hours in several car parks on Saturdays.

The cuts range from a 30p cut for 2-3 hour stays to £2, to halving the charge for 4-5 hour stays to £3.

It includes car parks at Christchurch House, Lower Ford Street, Manor House and New Union Street.