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Showdown on car park fees
TRADERS are heading for showdown talks with the council over "excessive" parking charges that they claim are crippling business in Weymouth.
Both the Town Centre Group and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism say they want to work with the council to find a solution before it is too late and shopping is "killed off".
Town Centre Group chairman Shaun Hennessy said: "Excessively high parking charges are making life extremely difficult for all traders.
"I run Blondz hairdressers and it is a subject that is continually raised by our clients.
"They are fed up with our ridiculous and archaic parking system. They don't like high parking charges and they don't like not being able to pay on exit.
"Town centre traders are working very hard to make Weymouth a popular shopping destination.
"Sadly this work is being ruined by motorists either having to rush back to their cars because their ticket is running out or because they have had enough and are shopping elsewhere."
Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism has been fighting for a shake-up of charges but fears the situation is worsening with the economic climate.
Chamber president George Afedakis said: "I think high parking charges are deterring shoppers."
Both men will represent their groups at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council policy development committee on August 11 when parking concerns will be aired.
Mr Afedakis said: "We want to work out how parking rates can be made more competitive in line with other towns.
"Shops are suffering because people are doing their shopping elsewhere in other towns where they don't have to pay so much for parking.
"Dorchester is much cheaper yet they are only eight miles away and you can park all day there for £1.50.
"In Weymouth it is more than double that. We need all the help we can get in these difficult times."
Mr Hennessy said: "We hope to get across to the council that we need to work together with parking for the benefit of everyone shopping in this town.
"This is vital because if the council continues with parking charge rise after rise with no benefit returned to the borough then shopping will be killed off."
Weymouth and Portland parking spokesman Christine James welcomed the talks but said the situation was not quite what traders were saying.
She said: "Short-stay ticket receipts are up and long-stay are steady. It is not rates that affect people coming here. It is the weather.
"Traders need to concentrate on attracting new blood and it has to be small shops because the bigger chains aren't interested because there isn't the capacity."
9:22am Monday 4th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: The Spy, Here on 10:31am Mon 4 Aug 08
A phrase including the words "banging, head, brick and wall" springs to mind.
A phrase including the words "banging, head, brick and wall" springs to mind.
Posted by: Dave, Westbury on 10:48am Mon 4 Aug 08
"It is the weather"
What nonsence, typical council speak, blame everyone else. I gave up visiting Weymouth long ago because of the rip-off car park charges.
"It is the weather"
What nonsence, typical council speak, blame everyone else. I gave up visiting Weymouth long ago because of the rip-off car park charges.
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 11:31am Mon 4 Aug 08
If the car parking charges are too high there is always the buses and more people on the buses the less traffic coming into town.
If the car parking charges are too high there is always the buses and more people on the buses the less traffic coming into town.
Posted by: nige, dorchester on 11:41am Mon 4 Aug 08
Its the weather..... what a ridiculous statement. Why don't the council run an experiement? The next time the weather is forecast to be raining why don't they advertise free parking just for 1 day. Then lets see what happens.
Its the weather..... what a ridiculous statement. Why don't the council run an experiement? The next time the weather is forecast to be raining why don't they advertise free parking just for 1 day. Then lets see what happens.
Posted by: genghis, portland on 11:44am Mon 4 Aug 08
I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day.
To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.
I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day.
To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 11:50am Mon 4 Aug 08
[bold]nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day[/bold] Never heard of the habits of the greater spotted red-bodied beach visiting grockle?
nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day Never heard of the habits of the greater spotted red-bodied beach visiting grockle?
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 12:13pm Mon 4 Aug 08
[quote][bold]genghis[/bold] wrote:
I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day. To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.[/quote] What planet are you on?
genghis wrote:
I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day. To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.
What planet are you on?
Posted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 12:14pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Tourists (and locals) that visit the beach would simply park all day long if there were free all day parking. The traders would then complain that none of their customers could find a space, as everyone was on the beach....When they are on the beach, they don't spend a huge amount of money in the shops. Weymouth seriously needs to overhaul its park and ride services. Having it at Lodmoor is a joke (you have to drive into the town centre to get to it!). The cost is also excessive. Why not develop a park and ride at the Ridgeway and White Horse? People could then park there and use a bus into town. The whole of Dorchester Road would experience significantly less traffic. Commuters could use it as well. As long as the council managed it correctly (!), it would only need a car park area at the Ridgeway and somewhere near the White Horse, so wouldn't requre millions of pounds investment. Yes, it would mean a field or two is lost, but this must surely be a more acceptable alternative than the Relief Road? More people able to visit the town more easily, and less traffic. This has got to be a good thing.
Tourists (and locals) that visit the beach would simply park all day long if there were free all day parking. The traders would then complain that none of their customers could find a space, as everyone was on the beach....When they are on the beach, they don't spend a huge amount of money in the shops. Weymouth seriously needs to overhaul its park and ride services. Having it at Lodmoor is a joke (you have to drive into the town centre to get to it!). The cost is also excessive. Why not develop a park and ride at the Ridgeway and White Horse? People could then park there and use a bus into town. The whole of Dorchester Road would experience significantly less traffic. Commuters could use it as well. As long as the council managed it correctly (!), it would only need a car park area at the Ridgeway and somewhere near the White Horse, so wouldn't requre millions of pounds investment. Yes, it would mean a field or two is lost, but this must surely be a more acceptable alternative than the Relief Road? More people able to visit the town more easily, and less traffic. This has got to be a good thing.
Posted by: genghis, portland on 12:21pm Mon 4 Aug 08
[quote][bold]yogi[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]genghis[/bold] wrote: I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day. To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.[/quote] What planet are you on?[/quote] Sarcasia, it's the lowest planet in the Wit system.
yogi wrote:
genghis wrote: I feel that the parking charges should be reduced by 50-75% or scrapped altogether. This would encourage people into the town and spend, spend, spend. I'm sure people would only use the car parks for the hour or so that they were in town and nobody would be as selfish to take advantage of cheaper or free parking to leave their car there all day. To encourage even more shoppers perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could encourage their members to reduce their charges by a similar amount as well.
What planet are you on?
Sarcasia, it's the lowest planet in the Wit system.
Posted by: dunketh, Portland on 1:12pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Not this old chestnut again.
Car parks are a great source of revenue for our cash-strapped council. Can you really see them reducing prices voluntarily?
They've already said ticket sales are steady - until people REALLY vote with their feet and go elsewhere nothing will change.
Personally I shall continue to park for free out of the center, asda, chapelhay, abbotsbury road, etc, wherever theres a space.
For a shopping trip I go to Dorchester, the shops there are much nicer anyway. They actually have some unique and interesting independant shops to look at - not the usual carbon-copy shopping centre weymouth has become.
Not this old chestnut again.
Car parks are a great source of revenue for our cash-strapped council. Can you really see them reducing prices voluntarily?
They've already said ticket sales are steady - until people REALLY vote with their feet and go elsewhere nothing will change.
Personally I shall continue to park for free out of the center, asda, chapelhay, abbotsbury road, etc, wherever theres a space.
For a shopping trip I go to Dorchester, the shops there are much nicer anyway. They actually have some unique and interesting independant shops to look at - not the usual carbon-copy shopping centre weymouth has become.
Posted by: tiger, preston on 2:22pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Parking a problem?
Try parking on the pleasure pier when CEO 28 is around, he is likley to tell you "If you don't move from there I'll put a ticket on it".
Parking a problem?
Try parking on the pleasure pier when CEO 28 is around, he is likley to tell you "If you don't move from there I'll put a ticket on it".
Posted by: Westie, West Dorset on 3:55pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Voice of Reason.... I am in total agreement with you.
I mentioned the stupid location for the Park/Ride a few years ago via the Echo Letters page with a suggestion that it should be placed somewhere outside of the town. At its current location, persons wanting to use the Park/Ride at Lodmoor are contributing to the congestion and LONG tailbacks that occur, no matter what direction they are travelling into Weymouth from. The idea of a Park/Ride is surely to help ease the congestion.
There must be some 'poor' farmer or landowner on the two main approaches into Weymouth who would be willing to make a few bob by renting out his field to the Council for this purpose.
Voice of Reason.... I am in total agreement with you.
I mentioned the stupid location for the Park/Ride a few years ago via the Echo Letters page with a suggestion that it should be placed somewhere outside of the town. At its current location, persons wanting to use the Park/Ride at Lodmoor are contributing to the congestion and LONG tailbacks that occur, no matter what direction they are travelling into Weymouth from. The idea of a Park/Ride is surely to help ease the congestion.
There must be some 'poor' farmer or landowner on the two main approaches into Weymouth who would be willing to make a few bob by renting out his field to the Council for this purpose.
Posted by: weymouthfox, Weymouth on 5:11pm Mon 4 Aug 08
where did the figures come from? It's £1.30 an hour to park on the seafront, £2.50 for two hours at the Pavilion. I went to Salisbury last week to a gig and
there was no charge after 6pm.
where did the figures come from? It's £1.30 an hour to park on the seafront, £2.50 for two hours at the Pavilion. I went to Salisbury last week to a gig and
there was no charge after 6pm.
Posted by: andena, PORTLAND on 5:26pm Mon 4 Aug 08
my husband went to park in Bournemouth for2 hours and it cost him £1 how can weymouth council justify their prices,i would rather go else where than pay them.
my husband went to park in Bournemouth for2 hours and it cost him £1 how can weymouth council justify their prices,i would rather go else where than pay them.
Posted by: John, Weymouth on 5:59pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Revenue from car park fees, or revenue from increased council tax?
I'm happy to be subsidised, and walk, cycle, or take the bus.
Revenue from car park fees, or revenue from increased council tax?
I'm happy to be subsidised, and walk, cycle, or take the bus.
Posted by: spangler on 6:41pm Mon 4 Aug 08
[quote]For a shopping trip I go to Dorchester, the shops there are much nicer anyway. They actually have some unique and interesting independant shops to look at - not the usual carbon-copy shopping centre weymouth has become.[/quote] I agree Dunketh, it's not the car parking that is at issue it's the shops on offer.
If times are tight for Weymouth shops then instead of being open all day when most of the trade will be either on the beach or visiting tourist destinations why not (stay) open in the evenings until 8-9pm or later when people have been to their hotels and are out for an evening stroll.
If they stayed open later it might have the added benefit of changing the character of the town in the evenings which so many people complain about too.
For a shopping trip I go to Dorchester, the shops there are much nicer anyway. They actually have some unique and interesting independant shops to look at - not the usual carbon-copy shopping centre weymouth has become.
I agree Dunketh, it's not the car parking that is at issue it's the shops on offer.
If times are tight for Weymouth shops then instead of being open all day when most of the trade will be either on the beach or visiting tourist destinations why not (stay) open in the evenings until 8-9pm or later when people have been to their hotels and are out for an evening stroll.
If they stayed open later it might have the added benefit of changing the character of the town in the evenings which so many people complain about too.
Posted by: Skiff, Weymouth on 8:38pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Its only ever about the money. The bureaucrats (who are already paid by us) will take every opportunity to squeeze as much as they can. When did you last see any government - local or otherwise - make a policy to take less?
Its only ever about the money. The bureaucrats (who are already paid by us) will take every opportunity to squeeze as much as they can. When did you last see any government - local or otherwise - make a policy to take less?
Posted by: mac, portland on 10:46pm Mon 4 Aug 08
its easy not to get ripped off in weymouth car parks....go two dorchester,, we do
its easy not to get ripped off in weymouth car parks....go two dorchester,, we do
Posted by: easyplaces, WEYMOUTH, DORSET on 9:02am Tue 5 Aug 08
I fail to understand the car park charge issue. Wherever I travel to I have to pay to park my car.
3 hours near Westover Road in Bournemouth costs nearly £3.00. The same in Poole. Weymouth attracts thousands of visitors and some shops are doing really well. So are we to understand that Blondz as a business is in decline and this is due to the cost of parking?
I fail to understand the car park charge issue. Wherever I travel to I have to pay to park my car.
3 hours near Westover Road in Bournemouth costs nearly £3.00. The same in Poole. Weymouth attracts thousands of visitors and some shops are doing really well. So are we to understand that Blondz as a business is in decline and this is due to the cost of parking?
Posted by: Alan Barrington on 1:12pm Tue 5 Aug 08
It is good old stealth taxing at its best. The council use every opportunity to squeeze as much money out of us as possible.
Here are a few ideas, which took me all of 10 seconds to think up:
1) Sell weekly permits for parking - say £15-20. Park at anytime in any carpark. The council would profit from this (you may only need to park for one day but may as well buy a permit, just in case).
2) Have a locals rate of say £5.
3) Vary the rate by week - more expensive in the summer, cheap in the winter.
4) Sell the permits in many town centre shops and make them easy to buy
There are tons of things the council *could* do to earn revenue but not annoy the locals - but they never think laterally enough.
It is good old stealth taxing at its best. The council use every opportunity to squeeze as much money out of us as possible.
Here are a few ideas, which took me all of 10 seconds to think up:
1) Sell weekly permits for parking - say £15-20. Park at anytime in any carpark. The council would profit from this (you may only need to park for one day but may as well buy a permit, just in case).
2) Have a locals rate of say £5.
3) Vary the rate by week - more expensive in the summer, cheap in the winter.
4) Sell the permits in many town centre shops and make them easy to buy
There are tons of things the council *could* do to earn revenue but not annoy the locals - but they never think laterally enough.
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 2:41pm Tue 5 Aug 08
Perhaps if council employees and councillors had to pay for parking (and councillors not allowed to put it on their expenses) then the cost of parking might come down.
Perhaps if council employees and councillors had to pay for parking (and councillors not allowed to put it on their expenses) then the cost of parking might come down.
Posted by: techie, Weymouth on 2:48pm Tue 5 Aug 08
[quote]1) Sell weekly permits for parking - say £15-20. Park at anytime in any carpark. The council would profit from this (you may only need to park for one day but may as well buy a permit, just in case).[/quote]
You can already buy weekly permits.
[quote]2) Have a locals rate of say £5.[/quote]
How would this be administered?
[quote]3) Vary the rate by week - more expensive in the summer, cheap in the winter.[/quote]
This is already done in quite a few of the car parks.
1) Sell weekly permits for parking - say £15-20. Park at anytime in any carpark. The council would profit from this (you may only need to park for one day but may as well buy a permit, just in case).
You can already buy weekly permits.
2) Have a locals rate of say £5.
How would this be administered?
3) Vary the rate by week - more expensive in the summer, cheap in the winter.
This is already done in quite a few of the car parks.
Posted by: weymouthfox, Weymouth on 9:56pm Tue 5 Aug 08
I did not realise councillors and council officers parked for free. No wonder they have no interest in how high the parking charges are!
I did not realise councillors and council officers parked for free. No wonder they have no interest in how high the parking charges are!
Posted by: Andy, Weymouth on 2:20pm Thu 7 Aug 08
The argument from traders, although as yet unproved, is that parking charges as they are reduce the number of shoppers in the town and hence their turnover and profits.
If reducing parking charges is considered by them a route to increased profits then surely they should be suggesting a contribution to the cost of the reduced charges from themselves.
If they don't then all that will happen is that all council tax payers will bear the costs of increasing the traders profits, is this really fair?
The argument from traders, although as yet unproved, is that parking charges as they are reduce the number of shoppers in the town and hence their turnover and profits.
If reducing parking charges is considered by them a route to increased profits then surely they should be suggesting a contribution to the cost of the reduced charges from themselves.
If they don't then all that will happen is that all council tax payers will bear the costs of increasing the traders profits, is this really fair?
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