Federation of Small Businesses recommends free parking

This is one of the recommendations in a new report published just days after Babergh District Council's cabinet gave the final nod of approval to plans to introduce charges in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham.

Meanwhile, plans to increase tariffs in Ipswich Borough Council car parks are set to go before the executive committee later today (August 6). 

The Federation of Small Businesses' Future of the High Street report has outlined a number of recommendations to help improve town centres. 

One of the recommendations suggests councils should introduce policies to provide free parking on at least two Saturdays per month, and at least two extra days. 

It says this would help towns "boost footfall and support local businesses" as they would be "more accessible and attractive" to visitors. 

Other recommendations include investing in smart high street infrastructure, developing community-specific online marketplaces and providing free Wi-Fi in priority high street areas.

In Babergh, plans for the introduction of a £1 charge for short stay parking for the first hour or £1 for the first two hours in long stay parking, with tariffs then rising in 50p increments, as well as a reduction in the cost of all day parking in Sudbury and Hadleigh from £3 to £2.50, have now been approved.

The plans for Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham were approved on Friday (Image: Newsquest)

The council says it can no longer afford to subsidise free parking as it faces a £6.7million budget gap. 

There are no plans to introduce charges for parking on Sundays or Bank Holidays. 

Kathryn Grandon, for Hadleigh South, said she was disappointed by the final approval of the new charges on Friday. 

"The free car parking helps the vibrancy of the main towns and very large villages and it benefits the whole of these communities," she said.

"It becomes a circle where people don't go because the fees are expensive and then shops close and then there's nothing to go for. We don't want that to happen." 

Cllr Kathryn Grandon (Image: Babergh District Council)

Of the FSB report cllr Grandon said: "Saturdays, as I said in previous meetings, are important for towns. Most things are closed in Hadleigh on a Sunday, so really having Sunday free doesn't help the high street.

"Having Saturday free would be helpful and what the report suggests in that way would be really helpful." 

She said she would also welcome the two extra days free and suggested they should occur at the same time each month so people could plan regular visits.

A Babergh spokesperson said: "We welcome this report by the Federation of Small Businesses on the future of high street, of which parking forms only a very small part. 

"It’s good to note that we are already taking action in line with many of the recommendations made, covering transformation, digitalisation, infrastructure and competitiveness – and in many cases, leading the way, whether through district council initiatives, or through work in partnership with our town councils, for example, our work developing virtual high streets and helping local business develop an online presence.

"It’s also good to see recognition that far more essential to the survival of our high streets, according to the businesses themselves, is the small business rate relief they receive from our council, together with the opportunities that will come from further investment in cultural attractions and sustainable travel, both also in line with our council strategies.

"In relation to parking, this report is written from the assumption that all councils now charge for short term parking – as this has been the norm for some time almost everywhere else.  The introduction of a modest parking charge - £1 for short stay parking for the first hour, or £1 for two hours in long stay – will still be well below the charges of most other councils, in order to help our high streets every day – not just two Saturdays per month." 

In Ipswich, plans would affect long-stay, short-stay, on-street and annual tariffs, with annual tariffs seeing the highest increase of 12.9 per cent or nearly £150.

Weekday annual tariffs would increase from £1,160 to £1,309, while full-week tickets for the year will rise from £1,228 to £1,386.

The council's executive committee will meet to discuss this on August 6. 

Ipswich Borough Council were approached for comment. 

Cllr David Taylor, cabinet member for operations at West Suffolk Council, said: "It is important that we manage our car parks through tariffs to maintain the balance of short and long stay spaces which are so vital to supporting the town centre and our strategic priority for sustainable growth."

Cllr David Taylor (Image: West Suffolk Council)

He said parking tariffs were used to manage the turnover of spaces and ensure they are available to people when they want or need them. 

He added that the council has worked with business representatives to include free parking from 3pm to encourage town centre shoppers. 

"That said we recognise that not all towns are the same which is why we do not have tariffs in place in Brandon and Mildenhall, nor in the on-street spaces we manage in Clare, while our tariffs in our other towns are set at different rates to match local demand and turnover of spaces," he continued.

“The income from parking funds West Suffolk’s programme of maintenance and improvements to its car parks which has included more than £2.2million invested in a programme of works over the past three years.

"In addition, the income pays associated costs including over £1m in business rates while it also helps pay for other work that supports the town centre including street cleaning and CCTV. Any changes to this would have an impact on services or the cost to taxpayers."