CHINGFORD: Traders' concern over parking charge increase (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

CHINGFORD: Traders' concern over parking charge increase

11:43am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Joe Curtis

CHINGFORD: Traders' concern over parking charge increase

TRADERS fear the worst for their high street after they were told parking charges will rise by one-third.

The retailers are worried the 30 per cent hike in the cost of parking vouchers for Station Road, Chingford, will push shoppers to spend their money in nearby Loughton, where car parks charge just 10p for half an hour.

But they feel their concerns have been swept aside by the local authority in order to raise its revenue.

Andy Ryan, manager of E4 Floor, a flooring store, told the Guardian: “It’s absolutely terrible. It’s going to stop people coming round the shops – there’s not a lot of footfall round here anyway.”

Zoe Durdoy, an assistant at Mammal, a pet shop on the high street, added: “It doesn’t seem like they care about us. It will do damage to our trade at a tough time for local shops – we are being penalised for being an independent business.”

The council will introduce the changes borough-wide from March 1. It also includes a 30 per cent increase in pay and display charges, though these will feature a new half-hour 80p charge as well.

The shop owners feel they are being made to pay for the shortfall in income experienced by the council after it introduced 15 minutes free parking in June 2011.

This as well as the change of hours in which the parking restriction operated – from between 9am and 5pm to between 10am and 4pm – has led to the council’s decision to claw back its revenue, they believe.

But manager of Needful Things Debbie Carter questioned what impact the free parking has had on the wellbeing of Station Road shops.

“The 15 minutes free parking helps the post office ad bank but not the businesses. You can’t have your hair cut in 15 minutes, you can’t choose a present in that time,” she said.

“We rely on people being able to take their time and enjoy the experience. Instead people come here in a rush then leave.”

Garfield Road car park was recently closed, causing much anger among residents and traders, but nearby Richmond Road car park’s fees will drop by 20 per cent as of February 13.

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