Race to organise petition against parking charges (From Worcester News)

Race to organise petition against parking charges

8:40am Sunday 12th February 2012 in News By Neil Watts

CONCERNED town centre traders face a race against time to drum up support against increased car parking charges.

The Great Malvern Association of Traders (GMAT) has launched a petition against Malvern Hills District Council’s decision to adopt new parking tariffs, which will see prices rise in short-stay car parks and fall in long-stay sites from Sunday, April 1.

They only have until the full council meeting on Tuesday, February 21, to gather signatures.

The decision was called before MHDC’s overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday at the request of its co-chairman Tom Wells. It has recommended the full council holds a review of the strategy after 12 weeks and involves traders in the process.

It also seeks to improve signage to all car parks at the same time charges are introduced and explore ways to work with the police to implement parking restrictions.

Chris Marks, of GMAT, said: “From our point of view it does not go far enough. We believe that by putting charges up you are taxing people who support traders in the town. Although they have the right intentions they are going about it the wrong way.

“We would urge any members of the public who support us on this to come into any of the shops in the town and sign the petition. We don’t feel the message has got across how important this is to the traders.”

At the meeting the committee’s co-chairman Mike Morgan raised the idea of a pay on exit system, which is something business owner and town councillor Adrian Ward feels could work.

“That way people pay for the time they spend in the car park. It would be nice for people to have that flexibility. I have a feeling it’s all about raising money.”

Coun Bronwen Behan, responsible for car parking at MHDC, said: “The strategy is trying to encourage people into Malvern, ease congestion, make more space in the car parks and encourage more turnover in the short stays. In my view that will go towards helping people to come into town.

“We will monitor it and it’s not something we will do and turn our back on it and say we are not bothered. If there’s a noticeable problem we would look at it.”

To sign the petition, visit change.org and search for ‘malvern parking’.