Proposal to offer free evening parking to boost retail sector criticised

[dutchman]

There are understood to be 54 empty retail units in the city



A proposal to introduce free evening parking in the city centre has been scrutinised by councillors.

The measures, proposed to help struggling retailers in the city centre amid concerns about the number of empty units, were debated at a council meeting this week.

A motion passed at the full council meeting on Tuesday agreed to note the difficulties facing shops and welcome suggestions to increase footfall, but Labour councillors were critical that extra free parking was the answer.

Coventry Conservatives had originally moved a motion calling on the Labour-run local authority to consider introducing free evening parking on a regular basis, although this specific proposal was removed from the final wording

Introducing the topic, Cllr Gary Crookes (Con, Wainbody) said that the council should "do its bit" to help shops, listing the various big-name brands which had either gone bust or were facing significant difficulties.

"The retail offer from high streets across the country is under pressure and Coventry is no exception," he said.

"This chamber can produce statements, it can make proclamations, it can call on others to take action but there is nothing like taking positive action ourselves."

He had said that more generous parking arrangements would come at a cost to the council, but believed this would be offset by an increased number of visitors.

He also noted that car park usage was falling and that there are understood to be 54 empty retail units in the city.

Cllr Jim O'Boyle (pictured), cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, had suggested that changes to parking arrangements in the evening would be of limited benefit to retailers.

"Everything that has been said around the retail sector having difficulties across the country is undeniable, it is a fact. It's an absolute fact.

"But I would say as well it was pointed out that there is free car parking, there are 450 on-street spaces in Coventry after six o'clock in the evening. I'm not sure how much that is going to support retail, because of course most of the shops are closed after six o'clock.

"I take the point about [relaxed restrictions at] Christmas, but of course the shops stay open later at Christmas, hence the incentive to do it."

He insisted the local authority was committed to supporting the city centre, but there were better options than 'a simple, easy policy that gives a headline in a paper'.

[rebbonk]

It's pointless offering free parking after 6:00PM as most stores are shut.

Whilst it might be counter intuitive, reducing parking fees would possibly bring more shoppers in. Problem is, our short sighted council have allowed building on many of the car parks so we aren't going to see a great influx of shoppers because they have nowhere central to park!