COUNCILLORS have delayed making a decision on car parking charges in the borough following an impassioned plea from local business leaders.
The local politicians had been due to decide on charging in council-owned car parks when they met at the Environment Committee on Wednesday but have paused their deliberations until a new report is prepared.
The councillors received a delegation from the newly formed Ards and North Down Business Forum which is made up of the five chambers in Newtownards, Bangor, Comber, Donaghadee and Holywood.
The Forum was represented at the committee meeting by Derek Wright and Michael Cafolla, from Newtownards chamber.
The delegation urged councillors to introduce two hours of free parking in town centres, warning that continued charges are driving shoppers away and crippling local traders.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, the delegation called for radical action to revive struggling high streets.
The council’s car parking strategy, unveiled in 2019, has been impacted by the pandemic and by protracted legal issues with the Department for Infrastructure. Nevertheless, Mr Wright said the Forum feels it is not fit for purpose.
“We have had radical changes in the high streets in the last 15 years, but in the last six it has been very worrying,” he said.
“This year in Newtownards we have seen 11 business closures, 11 business failures, and we believe we know of another five to come before the year is out. That is 16 businesses in a year. In that time we have seen just one business opening in Newtownards.”
Mr Wright highlighted the challenges faced by traders in competing with online shopping, supermarkets and retail parks.
“There is not a retail park or shopping centre that would charge for car parking and that’s who we are competing with. Our consumers are facing a constant charge to visit.”
The Forum called for two hours’ free parking in town centres to encourage footfall, followed by a £1 per hour charge, alongside a £1 all-day rate for people using peripheral car parks.
“We believe the High Street needs something radical and we believe our council could become the first council to lead in Northern Ireland to say come to our town, come and shop free for two hours,” said Mr Wright.
He also expressed concerns about the removal of the £1-for-five-hours rate, which he said had been fought for by Retail NI to support town centres.
In reply to a question from councillor Nigel Edmund who asked if free parking for two hours will help the retail shops ‘who are still providing employment’ Mr Wright said something positive is needed as parking charges are one of ‘the negative remarks we get constantly from customers’.
He stressed the importance of a ‘simple, positive message’: “Come and shop in our towns, come and shop for free for two hours.”
Councillor Alistair Cathcart noted that the council had already shown a commitment to parking support.
“We were the last council to end the £1 for five hours and we fought that a lot. We do value our town centres and our traders.
“What can we best do as a council to regenerate our town centres and city centres? You are proposing free for two hours, the council proposal is 50p for two hours. What difference will that have, will it turn off people?”
He said the changes being proposed by the Forum would have to be paid for and would have an impact through the rates. It may reduce funding for programmes designed to regenerate town centres.
Mr Cafolla argued the main benefit was in the message it sends.
“Free parking attracts attention and makes us welcoming,” he said.
“It is a bug bear for customers so if they could come in and stay for two hours and not worry about paying for parking is important. The point is the actual message it sends out. Our towns are free to park in.”
More on this story in this week’s Newtownards Chronicle.
