A couple of months ago I attended a town forum meeting to look at ways that our town centres could be improved. I was reminded of this last night when speaking to a resident who was expressing their dismay at the state of the High Street. In the last few months we have lost Argos, Pizza Hut and now apparently Mothercare is closing.
One of the big problems with Chipping Barnet is parking. The Spires shopping centre car park has recently put up it's prices and the Council car park is no cheaper. Shoppers can go to Borehamwood or Brent Cross and park for free. We can't compete with either of these on the amount of parking but I do believe we could make it more attractive for shoppers. I would make all the parking bays on the High Street free for two hours, as well as the all the Council car parks. This would stop permit holders (mainly the shop keepers) parking on the High Street for the whole day.
The administration seems to feel that the fate of our High Streets should be left to the market. Whilst the market should determine what shops succeed I think that the Council should be doing as much as possible to create a favourable climate for buisness to succeed. The Council is after all a player in the market not just a bystander.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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4 comments:
To give free parking for two hours, how much will this cost in loss revenue and therefore an increase on my council tax.
The life of Town Centres has been in decline for 20 years. People prefer to shop in shopping centres, and dont forget Hatfield now charges and still has thousands of customers.
It is difficult to park in Chipping Barnet full stop. So making it free wont make a difference.
The reason why shops move is because Barnet's shops are too small (and therefore less choice) and they cannot cope with the rent. Shops in the spires rarely stand empty for long.
So where would you put the additional car parking that Barnet Town Centre needs.
It's not about creating more spaces it's about using them more effectively. Having permit holders park in a space all day does not raise any money at all other than the cost of the permit. Causing turn over in parking will encourage people to stop for short periods.
Just wanted to say that I know people that work for Mothercare and it sounds like all of the town centre ones are being shut down, not just Chipping Barnet, so that one at least is not to do with the parking.
Dear Duncan,
I can't really see how the parking idea is going to help to be honest. As I walked home from work yesterday I counted 11 closed down shops! There are now only a handful of decent ones yet, and the high street is becoming increasingly depressing. Threshers Wine has been the latest victim after its rent was doubled. Each year local businesses are being placed under more and more pressure, since your original blog about four more shops have gone. What will be left? We need decent propsals? Barnet is an affluent area but this is not reflected in the state of the high street. On the plus side we now have the revolting chicken take away and the cost cutter that has recently had its lience taken away for selling alcohol to 13 years olds!
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