Parking charges 'hurting high street sales'
Dec 10 2008
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Parking restrictions and high costs are hampering Christmas retail trade further, leading more people to go to out-of-town shopping centres, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) warns.
The organisation states restrictions which could hamper companies are the 'last thing that struggling smaller retailers need'.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB, says expensive charges and insufficient waiting times will lead more people away from high street stores and to out-of-town malls, which often give free parking.
'The FPB is urging consumers to support small shops this Christmas and for local authorities to encourage them by removing these parking restrictions,' he adds.
One such council has done this in Knutsford, Cheshire, where parking charges have been waived from 15:00 GMT on two consecutive Thursday nights, to encourage more people to late-night shop.
The Federation of Small Businesses in north Wales is also calling for councils to cut parking costs, in order to boost Christmas shopping, the Daily Post reports.
The organisation states restrictions which could hamper companies are the 'last thing that struggling smaller retailers need'.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB, says expensive charges and insufficient waiting times will lead more people away from high street stores and to out-of-town malls, which often give free parking.
'The FPB is urging consumers to support small shops this Christmas and for local authorities to encourage them by removing these parking restrictions,' he adds.
One such council has done this in Knutsford, Cheshire, where parking charges have been waived from 15:00 GMT on two consecutive Thursday nights, to encourage more people to late-night shop.
The Federation of Small Businesses in north Wales is also calling for councils to cut parking costs, in order to boost Christmas shopping, the Daily Post reports.
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