Traders set to lose battle on parking fees
Shoppers and visitors to Market Harborough are set to pay more to park in the town – despite opposition from traders.
Harborough District Council is tomorrow expected to endorse a move to increase all charges by 20p.
It will mean the cheapest parking will be increased by 40 per cent to 70p.
The increase is opposed by supermarket Sainsbury's which said it could hit trade.
The supermarket oversees the largest car park in the town which has a limited number of short stay free spaces. It also operates a cash back system for its shoppers.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We have raised our concerns to the council about the implication this could have for the attractiveness of the town as a shopping destination."
Market Harborough Independent Retailers Association spokesman Malcolm Lever-Jones also criticised the increase.
He said: "Many of the smaller businesses in Harborough are finding it very difficult to trade profitably at this time.
"Increasing car parking charges at this time will hit visitor numbers yet again.
"We organised a petition against the introduction of charges in November 2004. Since then many of our members have noticed a fall in customers.
"Where car parks used to be full, many now have empty spaces all day.
"I would appeal to the council not to increase charges and find another way of raising the £160,000 they say this 20p extra would raise."
The council says the increase is needed to help bridge a funding gap caused by a £1.4 million cut in Government support.
The rise is calculated to raise an extra £159,000 a year which could be spent safeguarding services and is part of the proposed budget for next year.
The council is also looking to cut costs by re-organising how it operates and is in talks to bring in a new high street retailer to occupy the indoor market hall in Northampton Road.
Council leader Councillor Mike Rook told the full council meeting: "It is no good assuming that Harborough council can be somehow isolated from the realities of economic life.
"Our budget reflects this through hard-headed decisions and the transformation process. As yet, I have heard no viable alternatives to a decision we have yet to make."
8 Comments
by niall1988
Wednesday, March 28 2012, 2:09PM
“Is the Tory council deliberately trying to upset everyone in Harborough?!”
by georgeisafish
Thursday, February 23 2012, 8:58PM
“it wont be long before before were back in the early 1900's, where only the wealthy had the use of a motor car.”
by Opinion8ed
Thursday, February 23 2012, 6:43PM
“Like the proverbial turkeys voting for Christmas. Do councillors have a death wish?”
by sydney11
Thursday, February 23 2012, 4:51PM
“What the council does not get is that when they charge for parking or raise the parking fees, that is generally less that is spent in the shops - well that's my theory - I don't shop anywhere where I have to pay for parking - in fact I go less and less to the shops.
The council do not understand if they put up the parking fees, therefore people make less trips to the shops !”
by jonger
Thursday, February 23 2012, 4:04PM
“Neil0123
So fuel, roadfund licence, car insurance etc havn't gone up then.”
by oldhenry
Thursday, February 23 2012, 3:37PM
“Park out of town and walk in is the answer or use out of town shops or the internet. Councils will not be happy until they have killed the cash cow called the motorist. Then they will need another cash cow, probably the pedestrian will be charged for wearing out the pavements. A pavement wear charge, enforced by the redundant car park wardens. Councils have to get their funds from somwhere as the councillors wannt a good allownance for turning up at meetings to kill trade you know. And their allowances increa year on year. i woudl take councillors more seriously if they performed their role for nothing as they used to do, community spirit. Not any more as they whole ruling edifice of the UK is about grabbing what you can whilst you can.”
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 8:02PM
“As I said on a previous thread regarding car parking charges at Bradgate Park, at what point does a nominal fee for upkeep evolve into a 'revenue stream'?...”
by Neil0123
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:37PM
“Visitors to the town who use the train have to pay more, as train fares have risen. Visitors to the town who use the bus have to pay more, as bus fares have also risen.
So why shouldn't visitors who come by car also have to pay more? The makes it fair for everyone.”