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Parking charges a major factor behind high street slump

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Parking charges are killing high street trade, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is warning.

The FPB is concerned that, while the Government is backing recommendations made by the Competition Commission to boost competition and protect small suppliers, parking fees are causing consumers to shun town centres.

A survey carried out by the CBI has revealed that high street retailers are experiencing the worst slump in sales in quarter of a century. More than 60% of respondents said sales were down in the first half of July – over twice the number (25%) who reported higher sales.

Although the impact of the credit crunch on consumer spending has been cited as a major factor, in addition to soaring food and fuel prices, the FPB believes that parking charges are causing shoppers to reject high street shops in favour of large, out-of-town retailers providing free, on-site parking. “Access is a major component in determining the future of our town and city centres. More taxes on motorists mean that high street shops are less able to compete for trade against the larger retailers,” said the FPB’s Policy Representative, Matt Goodman. “The damage caused by various parking charges is done to the community as a whole, because more money is taken out of the pockets of both consumers and local businesses.”

In addition to fighting existing parking restrictions, the FPB is opposing a proposed scheme in Nottingham to charge some firms an annual fee of £185 for every car parking space they provide for employees. There are fears from some of the FPB’s members that this could be introduced elsewhere in the UK.

Source: Retail Bulletin

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