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

[sandGroundZero]

"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."

Too often, it is assumed that Lord Street's retailers would thrive if only parking was free. Encouraging more private vehicle journeys into town centres will only displace distortions elsewhere. You need to think more comprehensively![ John Pugh, too.]

local: "In their defence they would need to replace the free money from parking elsewhere. …"

A valid defence.

[grassroots]

What a great idea to scrap parking charges, only one thing , the council would lose the revenue and then would increase the business rate . So you cant win ha ho .

[*concerned*]

What a great idea to scrap parking charges, only one thing , the council would lose the revenue and then would increase the business rate . So you cant win ha ho .

*cough* Business rates are set by the Government, not local Councils

[local]

Too often, it is assumed that Lord Street's retailers would thrive if only parking was free. Encouraging more private vehicle journeys into town centres will only displace distortions elsewhere. You need to think more comprehensively![ John Pugh, too.]
A valid defence.

On its own free parking would only help not cure the ills of the high street but when we have valuable customers, and they are valuable to us all, not just the shops then why put anything in their way.

If those who support the idea of charging perhaps related it to their own lives how many would charge guests to park on their drive ?

Those tired arguments "its only a few quid" "X&Y do it" "etc could be practised on the declining number of visitors to their homes.

Be great if they were trying to sell their houses.

Not all shop keepers are multinational tax dodgers.

Private car journeys are necessary to bring in the money we need, a bus full of non producers with passes or a few PNP's is not going to help.

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

Some interesting replies , I saw this were Shropshire introduced free parking and saw huge rise in footfall ! ....https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/...tter-footfall/

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

Too often, it is assumed that Lord Street's retailers would thrive if only parking was free. Encouraging more private vehicle journeys into town centres will only displace distortions elsewhere. You need to think more comprehensively![ John Pugh, too.]
A valid defence.

So what do you suggest as a positive idea ? We leave it as it is and watch more shops close ? Then what ?

[Alikado]

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.

It's free you can park for free for 10 mins by the monument.

[bensherman]

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 ?

Not as simple as it seems.

What the shops need is a flow of customers. Somebody who parks there all day is probably a local worker or commuter and does not provide custom.

Once you accept that you need a turnover of cars, that calls for enforcement. Right now, the enforcement is contracted-out with parking fees paying for it. If you make it free parking, are you prepared to pay from council tax the cost of enforcement?

A middle ground which I have suggested before is that Sefton Council offers council tax payers a break; as in some free parking allowed by a current sticker in the car provided by the council on receipt of council tax, or possibly for an annual admin charge. You could allow further vehicles from the same address, stickers at a fee.

Or we could use the parking disk system, with the only legit disks being those supplied by the council.

[Alikado]

Not as simple as it seems.

What the shops need is a flow of customers. Somebody who parks there all day is probably a local worker or commuter and does not provide custom.

Once you accept that you need a turnover of cars, that calls for enforcement. Right now, the enforcement is contracted-out with parking fees paying for it. If you make it free parking, are you prepared to pay from council tax the cost of enforcement?

A middle ground which I have suggested before is that Sefton Council offers council tax payers a break; as in some free parking allowed by a current sticker in the car provided by the council on receipt of council tax, or possibly for an annual admin charge. You could allow further vehicles from the same address, stickers at a fee.

Or we could use the parking disk system, with the only legit disks being those supplied by the council.

The turnover of cars is probably about right now, it's not to difficult to find a space but becomes difficult when busy. Anybody who wants something cheaper and for longer can use the excellent Park N Ride for £2 which will take you anywhere along the Promenade or Lord St all day or for the even more tight-fisted use of the Ocean Plaza is free.

[local]

Not as simple as it seems.

What the shops need is a flow of customers. Somebody who parks there all day is probably a local worker or commuter and does not provide custom.

Once you accept that you need a turnover of cars, that calls for enforcement. Right now, the enforcement is contracted-out with parking fees paying for it. If you make it free parking, are you prepared to pay from council tax the cost of enforcement?

A middle ground which I have suggested before is that Sefton Council offers council tax payers a break; as in some free parking allowed by a current sticker in the car provided by the council on receipt of council tax, or possibly for an annual admin charge. You could allow further vehicles from the same address, stickers at a fee.

Or we could use the parking disk system, with the only legit disks being those supplied by the council.

Its not us that need the permits its out of town shoppers who aren't going to apply for one.

We need a steady stream of new well off customers although at the rate were going there won't be anything left to attract them.

[silver fox]

Not as simple as it seems.

What the shops need is a flow of customers. Somebody who parks there all day is probably a local worker or commuter and does not provide custom.

Once you accept that you need a turnover of cars, that calls for enforcement. Right now, the enforcement is contracted-out with parking fees paying for it. If you make it free parking, are you prepared to pay from council tax the cost of enforcement?

A middle ground which I have suggested before is that Sefton Council offers council tax payers a break; as in some free parking allowed by a current sticker in the car provided by the council on receipt of council tax, or possibly for an annual admin charge. You could allow further vehicles from the same address, stickers at a fee.

Or we could use the parking disk system, with the only legit disks being those supplied by the council.

Ref; the parking disc system was in use on the I of M, different areas had time limit restrictions, set the time you park and leave within the limit, no charge, overstay could get expensive, but it worked.

[said]

What a great idea to scrap parking charges, only one thing , the council would lose the revenue and then would increase the business rate . So you cant win ha ho .

It is not the local council these fees are sent to, is it? It is the Liverpool Combined authority.

[sandGroundZero]

local: "…free parking would only help not cure the ills of the high street"If those who support the idea of charging perhaps related it to their own lives how many would charge guests to park on their drive ?"
"…If those who support the idea of charging perhaps related it to their own lives how many would charge guests to park on their drive ?"

Parked vehicles occupy space; space is valuable (in town centres, especially so). Put otherwise, a parking space is a valuable commodity.
You argue from a narrow perspective — that retail business is pre-eminently important in regulating our built envirnoment which of course, it is not. Try approaching the problem from a broader perspective: How can we get customers and retailers together? The internet is one solution, albeit in a fashion that disadvantages so-called 'bricks and mortar' retailers. That in turn poses a town planning problem inasmuch as a vibrant retailing district has been a key feature of civic life.
People whose responsibility it is to manage stresses on the social fabric must balance very many different, pressing priorities.
The optimum solution is perhaps NOT eliminating parking fees.

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

The turnover of cars is probably about right now, it's not to difficult to find a space but becomes difficult when busy. Anybody who wants something cheaper and for longer can use the excellent Park N Ride for £2 which will take you anywhere along the Promenade or Lord St all day or for the even more tight-fisted use of the Ocean Plaza is free.

Mmm Ocean plaza. , that place is awesome ,I note all the units FULL , matalan always busy ,successful and pleasing to shop in , pet shop busy and friendly ,poundstretcher, awesome good range convenient and fast always people buying , McDonald s , Choca ....I rest my case

[said]

Too often, it is assumed that Lord Street's retailers would thrive if only parking was free. Encouraging more private vehicle journeys into town centres will only displace distortions elsewhere. You need to think more comprehensively![ John Pugh, too.]
A valid defence.

No-one is suggesting that by lifting the parking charges that there will suddenly be a frantic dash to get into town by car! The idea is to encourage people into the town, to take advantage of the few retail outlets we have and then perhaps more people would be encouraged to open more shops. Obviously - if we got back to the state where car parking was causing problems then charges would have to be re-introduced again. When Southport comes out of Sefton, more money would be distributed in the local area and there should be a concerted effort by the council, councillors, business people and investors to promote and regenerate Southport.