Calls are being made to investigate whether bringing in some free car parking concessions in Southport town could help local businesses.
A full Sefton Council meeting at Southport Town Hall next Thursday (14th November 2024) will see Cllr Mike Prendergast call for a feasibility report to be prepared to look into the potential benefits of a free parking scheme in the area, which could include initiatives such as some free parking during off-peak times, for example between October and March.
He raised concerns about the challenges being faced by local businesses this year, as they face growing competition with online retail and retail parks.
Central 12 retail park on Derby Road in Southport introduced two hour free parking for shoppers earlier this year.
Southport councillor and Sefton Conservative Group Leader Cllr Councillor Mike Prendergast said: “As a town, Southport is one of the economic engines of Sefton with a vibrant tourism and hospitality sector attracting around 9 million visitors per year, generating £550 million to the local economy. Nearly 7,000 jobs depend on this sector alone.
“Southport also has a well developed retail and service sector with many local people working in these sectors in and around Southport Town centre.
“However, many Southport town centre businesses, across all sectors, are struggling, with many reporting drops in footfall of between 70-75% over the last few months.
“One of the factors, which can be addressed by this Council, impacting local businesses is town centre car parking.
“This Council recognises the impact that parking charges, and previous increases in those charges, has had on local businesses and resolves to explore a range of options to address this issue.”
Clr Prendergast is calling for Sefton Council to back his calls:
- To prepare a feasibility report in order to investigate the potential benefits of introducing a free parking scheme in Southport town centre and for this report to be considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) . This could, for example, include free parking during off-peak times (October – March) for a set number of hours (for example 2 / 3 hours free).
- To engage with town centre businesses on the issue of town centre parking and the impact it has on them when competing with online retailers, retail parks and other nearby towns that offer free parking for set periods or at certain times of year.
- To recognise that successive increases in parking charges in Southport Town Centre have impacted town centre businesses.
- To work with local businesses to address parking and other issues with a coherent strategy for Southport Town Centre and our local economy.
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