Get rid of the parking vultures & increase the number of shoppers

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

Is it time for Southport to get rid of the over zealous vultures and offer free parking in Southport because at this rate of shop closures there will be no viability for business left ,even as a temporary basis ?

[Alikado]

We need more wardens / enforcement officers, the Town Centre gets reasonable coverage but the parks and away from the Town Centre are neglected. There is a fortune to be collected in fines for dog dirt and parking offences.

[gazaprop]

Is it time for Southport to get rid of the over zealous vultures and offer free parking in Southport because at this rate of shop closures there will be no viability for business left ,even as a temporary basis ?

What a silly post - they are neither over zealous nor vultures. They are people enforcing well publicised parking restrictions.

[Ceam]

What a silly post - they are neither over zealous nor vultures. They are people enforcing well publicised parking restrictions.

and road parking is nearly always close to full. So what will it achieve other than having the shoppers replaced with the staff of shops?

[salus.populi]

Free parking isn't going to alter the fact that the consumer has far more choice of things to buy on the internet.

[said]

What a silly post - they are neither over zealous nor vultures. They are people enforcing well publicised parking restrictions.

So...without these restrictions on parking, there would be no parking wardens and just maybe we would get more people come into town by road? Then there would be less money being paid to the Liverpool Combined Authority. If there was no money coming to the Combined Authority, then they would not have to call budget meetings to discuss how not to use the money in Southport - meetings for which too few paid Labour councillors of Liverpool turn up for, and which have to be cancelled. Right?

[said]

Is it time for Southport to get rid of the over zealous vultures and offer free parking in Southport because at this rate of shop closures there will be no viability for business left ,even as a temporary basis ?

Surely the revenue from parking has decreased sufficiently for the Council to recognise that by having more people come into Southport, more shops would open and more money than that from parking fees would be paid in business rates.

[Ceam]

So...without these restrictions on parking, there would be no parking wardens and just maybe we would get more people come into town by road? Then there would be less money being paid to the Liverpool Combined Authority. If there was no money coming to the Combined Authority, then they would not have to call budget meetings to discuss how not to use the money in Southport - meetings for which too few paid Labour councillors of Liverpool turn up for, and which have to be cancelled. Right?

Tablets are on the top shelf.

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

What a silly post - they are neither over zealous nor vultures. They are people enforcing well publicised parking restrictions.

I would disagree the post is silly ,but could be perceived to be by some and that is perfectly fine ,we live in a silly world were the outcome of our decisions and rules may well seem logical and correct at the time.
My entitlement to pass comment remains , I am sure there once was a time when parking was free in Southport and I would guess footfall would be generous in those times
Allowing free parking could only increase visitors in turn increasing shop revenue and in turn feed the hand of rates based income for ever demanding councils .

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

Free parking isn't going to alter the fact that the consumer has far more choice of things to buy on the internet.

I believe it could , yes the internet plays a role in the decrease on the street but people will still want to shop in the street its a fundamental part of most western societies.

[said]

I believe it could , yes the internet plays a role in the decrease on the street but people will still want to shop in the street its a fundamental part of most western societies.

The chain shops that have closed on the High Street have more to do with Equity firms and Shareholders than the internet. Equity firms have been buying companies over and taking over the buildings selling off the stock and assets and making huge profits on the properties. They do not care a fig about business. The internet is cheap - but it does have severe problems for many shoppers. The internet is the result of, not a cause of poor footfall in the town. Due to the take overs on businesses, stock has been steadily reducing and shoppers have been unable to purchase their needs. Small private retailers are now making a big comeback and providing the management face up to market changes as they occur, these will become more popular. But they will not be helped by continuous barriers on motorists.

[steve]

Our nearest town is Chorley, £1 for two hours and a few streets in the centre free for 30 or 60 minutes, especially near the banks. 10 minute nip to the bank in Southport can cost you £1.50.

[local]

Parking charges and their enforcement do put the right people off visiting the town but trying to get that through to people who haven't got the intelligence to work that out is a problem.

When out of town shopping centres introduce parking charges to "enhance the experience" and it increases shoppers I may be convinced otherwise.

It wasn't so long ago John Pugh was supporting the removal of parking charges for central 12.

A removal of parking charges is not a removal of time limits.

Unfortunately the short thinkers run the council and they are not the people to turn round and reinvigorate a presumably smaller town centre.

In their defence they would need to replace the free money from parking elsewhere.

As it currently stands they get their money whatever happens to the town and its shops.

[*concerned*]

Ainsdale village has regular visits from traffic wardens !

They have to walk around for hours, as the only parking restriction is a 2 hour limit, and yes I have witnessed cars being ticketed in the village!

They must have a photographic memory to notice each car parked, the time each car parked, then go back to each 2 hours later to see if they are still there.

[sandGroundZero]

"…we live in a silly world were the outcome of our decisions and rules may well seem logical and correct at the time.
…"Allowing free parking could only increase visitors in turn increasing shop revenue and in turn feed the hand of rates based income for ever demanding councils."

The economics of Lord Street's retailers' woes will be complex; parking fee revenue to the Council would not necessarily be replaced by business rates. Councils throughout England are facing diminishing resources and increasing demand for essential services. Other Councils have tried free parking. Unwelcome consequences pop up elsewhere.
Do not be too smug in your economic assessments.