on street parking responses

The Windermere & Bowness Chamber of Trade are opposed to the Cumbria County Council's proposals for 'on-street' parking charges in the format currently set out. However The Chamber of Trade acknowledges that not all its membership or businesses in Bowness and Windermere are against the idea and that the views expressed below do not reflect ALL of the membership.

I have recently opened an Art Gallery in Bowness-on-Windermere and have a parking bay outside the shop. The reason I chose this location was due to the fact that my customers need somewhere to park outside the gallery to collect the artwork they have purchased and to make it hassle-free for them. Also, because being a busy road, many of the cars driving past can see easily into the gallery window and stop in a nearby parking bay on the street if they see something they like and would like to pop in.

Having recently learnt about the on-street parking plans for the town, I am very concerned for the future of my business as I feel this will seriously affect customers coming up to this end of town. At present, the one hour free parking works very well for my customers who just want to pop in to shops at this end of town. We get much of our trade from these customers and it would be devastating to lose this.

At a time when the economy is just turning a corner, independent retailers who have managed to survive over the last few years are desperately trying to get back on their feet. New businesses opening in town are bringing new jobs to Bowness as well as keeping the friendly character of it's many wonderful independent retailers. We need all the help we can get at present and the town certainly doesn't need any more shops closely, which I am certain this would cause.

We are as concern about the threat of on street parking and the level of parking charges in general in South Cumbria.

We are trying to arrange meetings with the councillors and officers dealing with this as Jo Stephenson suggested.

WE have expressed our concerns to South Lakeland District Council about the level of parking charges without any success. At the meeting last year with Giles Archibald and another councillor they said parking charges were not up for discussion.

They do not appear to appreciate if they reduced the charges to 50p hour the car parks would be full all year.

We all need to keep putting pressure on the councillors. If they were up for election this year they may have taken a greater interest.

I'm just sending you a quick email to say that I think parking charges will directly affect my small independent shop in Bowness and my parents guest house as people will not stay to visit if they are charged everywhere.

I recently read with dismay that CCC was intending to introduce on-street parking changes. The reply you received from the County Councillor moves me from dismay to despair. Sadly his idealistic view of how we should all be living our lives flies in the face of humans love of personal transport, which shows no sign of waning, indeed quite the opposite. In his response, he seems to be trying to put the blame for any loss of trade on local businesses not providing an enjoyable experience for visitors. I personally find this quite insulting. We constantly invest in staff training and employ independent mystery shoppers to maintain high standards in our stores. Over the years we have improved and upgraded our premises and continue to do so. Where does the councillor think this money comes from?

The councillor is completely wrong to assume that people will happily pay SLDCs extortionate parking charges. This is probably the most common complaint we hear from visitors to our stores. I hate to think of the number of sales we have lost to the comment “I haven’t time to try it on now as I my parking ticket expires soon”.

Every year we holiday for a week in Pembrokeshire. The main shopping town is Haverfordwest where we pay just 20p for the first hour in the main car park. We also like to visit the pretty honeypot fishing village of Solva, where the parking is free! Last week I visited Llandudno and parked in the car park attached to the council funded conference centre right on the sea front. The charge was £2 for 8 hours and free after 6.00pm. In comparison SLDCs charges leave a bitter taste in visitors mouths and tell them quite plainly that they are not welcome.

Please feel free to pass on my comments to representatives of any government body who might have the decency to listen to the common sense arguments of their constituents.

Alan Winrow wrote:

Barry,

Just to add a little more fuel: Pay & Display car parks in Clitheroe (including the town centre and market) are 50p per hour.

Allan

Angie Fell wrote:

Hi Adrian,

My name is Angie Fell and I have a sweet shop in Bowness (Sweet Traditions). I am just writing to express my concerns relating to the charges being proposed for roadside parking. As a small business selling low priced items I feel this would have a detrimental affect on my business, I have been informed that you are the person I need to voice my concerns to.

Kind Regards

Angie Fell

Lorraine Griffiths wrote:

Many of my customers visit for a studio shoot or to look at albums are with me for less than an hour and currently park on Lake Road for a free 1 hour parking. I feel charging for parking in Bowness would affect my business.

The car park at Quarry Rigg is often full and expensive.

Lorraine

Bowness Wedding Photography, North Terrace, LA23 3AU

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