Recent figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have revealed that life is beginning to return to the high street, with our town centres outperforming shopping centres and out of town retail complexes for the first time in several years. However, the high street is by no means out of the woods yet, which is why retailers in Sheffield are concerned over an announcement made last week.
Sheffield Council has made the decision to implement a 17 per cent price rise for drivers choosing to park on streets in the city centre, taking the hourly rate from £1.70 to £2, later this year. Furthermore, evening and Sunday charges will also come in at the same time – something which shopkeepers in the city centre fear will drive trade back into the arms of out of town sites.
Retailers are now urging the council to rethink their plans, claiming that any increase in parking charges will effectively “kill off” businesses in the city centre.
Manager for A New Shop fashion store on Division Street, Clarke Vaughn, believes that his customers will depart to areas where cheaper or free parking is offered when the price increase comes into effect.
He says; “The council is killing us, and people are going to stop shopping in the city centre – it needs to reconsider.
“Meadowhall [shopping centre] has free parking; everyone is just going to go there. It’s inside, it’s warm and it’s free.”
The council made the decision to go ahead with the fees increase following the release of the Economic Growth Strategy analysis. In the report, it was estimated that output could total £11.2 billion per annum, yet with an annual generation of only £9.6 billion Sheffield is largely underperforming.
Cabinet minister for finance at Sheffield Council, Councillor Bryan Lodge, insists that the rise in parking charges is absolutely necessary to offset the effects of cuts elsewhere. However, he points out that the council has put provisions in place to cushion city centre retailers from the move.
He says; “Traders want short-term turnover of spaces on-street, so charges are high to discourage people staying for a long time.
“We are reducing the cost of parking in off-street car parks, and my colleague Councillor Leigh Bramall, cabinet member for business, is working on a scheme to provide cash back or discounts for people who park then use local traders.”
On-street parking charges are also being lowered to £1 for spaces on the edge of the city centre, with the maximum waiting time being extended to 8 hours. However, with a staple part of the Portas Review recommendations – free parking in town centres – being resoundingly ignored here, retailers will remain sceptical that any aspect of this decision will benefit them at all.
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