A recent Echo article states that free parking is being considered for Weymouth town centre over the Easter period. I hope not. The recent six months of free parking on a Sunday has been a commercial disaster for town centre businesses.
Because of this offer, customers changed their shopping habits – going to out-of-town locations on a Saturday (most provide free parking) and shopping in Weymouth on a Sunday to take advantage of the free parking. Unfortunately, while out of town the customers purchased items from their regular shopping list which they would normally have bought in Weymouth. Each weekend since Christmas my footfall has been down an average of 14% and my takings down around 22% each week.
Other businesses I have spoken to have experienced the same percentage of losses. My estimate of the overall loss of spend in the town centre since Christmas is £180,000-£220,000 per week. Can I suggest the council and its partners do their homework before deciding on further free parking?
Peter Saunders, Cornwall Close, Weymouth
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