All-Party Parliamentary Group welcomes report on the impact of car parking fees on town centres
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Town Centres has praised a recent report which assesses the links between car parking fees and the health of the UK’s high streets.
The ‘Re-think! Parking on the High Street’ report, a collaboration between the Association of Town & City Management, the British Parking Association, Springboard and Parking Data & Research International, urges local authorities and private car park owners to devise parking policies that make it easier for shoppers to access high streets.
The report reveals that some mid-sized and smaller town centres could be overcharging for car parking in relation to the amenities on offer and suggests that this is contributing to high street decline. It also claims that free parking is no longer realistic in many locations and local authorities are finding it difficult to manage conflicting objectives.
Marcus Jones MP, chairman of the Town Centres Parliamentary Group, said: “Parking has become a very emotive topic for many people. The high street is fragile and accessibility has become a vital issue. Clarity and guidance for councils, private car park owners, consumers and traders is critical if we are to increase the attraction of town centres.
Never Miss a Retail Update!“Since the All-Party Group’s formation in 2010, car parking has been high on our agenda. We came to an agreement with the ATCM that policy-makers needed support in this area. I see this report as an important step in providing evidence that will ultimately support town centre regeneration.”
