According to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities, councils should provide more parking spaces in town centres and cut down on speed humps.
New planning guidance will also urge councils to ensure parking charges do not “undermine” local economies, adding, “parking enforcement should be proportionate.”
Draconian town hall parking policies and street clutter
As part of his proposals, he highlighted “Draconian town hall parking policies” and “street clutter”, which can make driving into town centres unnecessarily stressful and actually create more congestion because of lack of places to park.
These “anti-car measures” are apparently driving motorists into the arms of Internet retailers and out of town superstores – leading to the demise of the high street.
Is parking an ‘obstacle course’?
Pickles goes on to describe finding somewhere to park in towns, cities and seaside resorts across the UK as an “obstacle course”, adding: “Confusing and difficult car parking practices are undermining the economic vitality of the high street and tourist destinations. Over-zealous parking wardens have been inflicting real damage on local economies and given many towns and councils a bad name.”
Ditch the anti-car dogma
As part of a full press release from the Communities Secretary, Pickles also explained how “town halls need to ditch their anti-car dogma.
Less flexibility for local authorities?
Following the MP's accusations of harsh parking penalties and problems with local council policies, a spokesman for the Local Government Association, representing over 370 councils in England and Wales, told the BBC: “Councils work hard to try and boost trade and keep high streets vibrant through parking incentives such as free short-stay, cheaper evenings and free Sundays.
“Creating more spaces in town and city centres where there is no room for them is simply not the way to draw more shoppers to the high street. Parking measures help avoid congestion in our high streets.
“In fact, the government's own figures show charges in England are falling in real terms while councils invest any revenue back into transport services like filling potholes and road improvement projects.
“The more government continues to intervene in this way, the less flexibility local authorities have to react to the individual needs of local shoppers, residents and traders and support local businesses and High Streets in their area.”
Others have attacked Pickles for blaming the downfall of the high street on speed bumps rather than wider government policy, tax hikes and economic recession.
Have you been affected by “anti-car measures” put in place by your local council? What do you make of parking arrangements in your local town? Is lack of parking and increases in “street clutter” killing the high street? Join the debate on the Arnold Clark Facebook page.