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

[sandGroundZero]

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

Economists tell us that Business Rates and the current rate relief regime are inefficient; presumably that includes the administration, notably the distribution of the proceeds. I do not contend there are not difficulties for 'bricks and mortar' retailers in UK towns and cities. However, abolishing parking charges is simplistic; there are broader issues and doing away with parking charges displaces the pressures (on local government finances, and otherwise.)
It is necessary to enable movement within the town while at the same time discouraging private vehicle traffic owing to pollution, safety and other considerations. If Southport were to showcase a fleet of autonomous electric vehicles ferrying people around the business and leisure districts could be a WIN/WIN for the town.

[2STEPS-IN-FRONT]

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.

Interesting but could you explicate a little on the point you have suggested is pre eminently important in my view ?

[sandGroundZero]

"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."

Supposing that vehicle traffic is not problematic is blinkered. There are many problems, air quality and road safety not least, which reducing vehicle traffic would would improve matters.

said: "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."

Southport out of Sefton is utterly counter-productive. Communities need to collaborate to solve common problems. Tinkering with local government structure is a troublesome diversion which local political party activists are dabbling with at our peril.

[sandGroundZero]

Interesting but could you explicate a little on the point you have suggested is pre eminently important in my view ?

There is no pre-eminently important problem. We are talking about complex systems, here. Tinkering at one point will have implications elsewhere. [A lot of people (evidently) don't know that!]

[Alikado]

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

Wrong !

[salus.populi]

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.

Who are these well off shoppers ready to drive in and spend a small fortune in the shops if only they didn't have to pay a couple of quid to park? Do they exist? Shroedinger's shopper?
A survey of visitors a few years ago showed that everyone surveyed thought the parking charges in Southport were either reasonable or very reasonable.

[salus.populi]

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.

How can they do that when the chains of shops rent rather than own the buildings they trade from?

[salus.populi]

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

No it isn't. And this has been pointed out to you on numerous occasions yet you continue to tell this lie time after time.

[seivad]

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

The parking surplus is paid to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. As the quote from SMBC below explains, it goes toward the payment of the public transport services levy. If SMBC didn't have a parking charge surplus of income over expenditure, the full levy would be paid from their budget.

"The 2018/19 levy for Sefton is £18,605m made to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for the provision of public transport services in the borough. The Parking surplus contributes towards this levy.

Number of on-street parking spaces is estimated as 1400 pay and display bays (as individual bays are not marked). Does not include Residents Privileged Parking Bays.

Number of off-street parking bays is 6300."

The parking income/expenditure figures for 2015 through 2018 are available on the link below.

https://www.sefton.gov.uk/media/1490...re_2015-18.pdf

As for this:

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.

Free parking/paid parking, it makes no difference to the LCRCA. Their transport levy has absolutely nothing to do with Southport's parking charges, and would still have to be paid as before. Free parking would make a difference to SMBC. They would no longer have a parking surplus to put towards making the levy payment.

[salus.populi]

The parking surplus is paid to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. As the quote from SMBC below explains, it goes toward the payment of the public transport services levy. If SMBC didn't have a parking charge surplus of income over expenditure, the full levy would be paid from their budget.

"The 2018/19 levy for Sefton is £18,605m made to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for the provision of public transport services in the borough. The Parking surplus contributes towards this levy.

Number of on-street parking spaces is estimated as 1400 pay and display bays (as individual bays are not marked). Does not include Residents Privileged Parking Bays.

Number of off-street parking bays is 6300."

The parking income/expenditure figures for 2015 through 2018 are available on the link below.

https://www.sefton.gov.uk/media/1490...re_2015-18.pdf

As for this:


Free parking/paid parking, it makes no difference to the LCRCA. Their transport levy has absolutely nothing to do with Southport's parking charges, and would still have to be paid as before. Free parking would make a difference to SMBC. They would no longer have a parking surplus to put towards making the levy payment.

And it's simply the same levy that was previously paid directly to Merseytravel.

[Knot wright]

it would probably help to get the lights fixed on Brooms Cross road and then people could get to Southport !!!

[Alikado]

it would probably help to get the lights fixed on Brooms Cross road and then people could get to Southport !!!

Absolute mayhem round there, ongoing road works on Edge Lane, Brooms Cross lights and works on Switch Island.

[local]

Headlights ?

[local]

There is no pre-eminently important problem. We are talking about complex systems, here. Tinkering at one point will have implications elsewhere. [A lot of people (evidently) don't know that!]

Grammarly ?

[said]

Wrong !

The 2018/19 levy for Sefton is £18,605 million made to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for the provision of public transport services in the borough. The Parking surplus contributes towards this levy - Sefton Council.