VOTE: Call to reduce parking fees in Scunthorpe to boost business
A CALL has been made for concessionary car parking schemes for shoppers in Scunthorpe town centre.
The proposal was made by Conservative Group leader Councillor Liz Redfern in the wake of the proposals by Marks And Spencer to cease trading in the High Street by 2011.
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Councillor Liz Redfern
The retail giant announced it plans to close the store because it had become commercially unviable, amid a flurry of protest.
Ms Redfern said she and her colleagues wanted traders to sign up to a scheme to allow shoppers to use one half of their parking tickets as a discount against purchases.
Ms Redfern said: "This would provide a strong incentive for stores to participate and enable them to compete more effectively with out-of-town shopping centres which provide free parking.
"We would hope to introduce a scheme as soon as possible if we were to win the elections next May."
The Tory leader said a previous proposal to introduce one-hour free car parking for shoppers in the Scunthorpe town centre had been rejected by the ruling Labour group.
She added: "I cannot see what the council can and is prepared to do to convince Marks And Spencer to stay in the town.
"I hope the incentives are enough to persuade them, but I do doubt it.
"They cannot promise them enough shoppers with enough disposable income to make the store profitable."
But the council's spokesman on highways and transport, Councillor Bernard Regan, said: "North Lincolnshire's parking charges are among the lowest in the Humber region.
"Only a few months ago we cut the short-stay price by 10p to help traders and encourage more shoppers to the town.
"It's a great pity the local Tories aren't so quick to dismiss the savage nature of their government's cuts to the highways budget.
"We've had thousands of pounds removed from road safety schemes the local Tories have previously championed.
"Rather than make cheap election gimmicks, perhaps their energy and time would be better used campaigning against these vicious cuts which could put people's lives at risk."
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by hazel, scunthorpe
Monday, August 02 2010, 6:48PM
“Surely any right minded council would have brought the parking charges down when all the shops started closing, also when the market started going down hill the rents should have been dropped not put higher, thus encouraging new tenants.”
by The Scribe to Capt Kirk and his crews folly's, Pittwood House
Sunday, August 01 2010, 6:09PM
“Janine, Scunthorpe,
You are indeed correct - a typing error on my behalf for which I apologise, but thank you for highlighting. However what you forgot to also mention was the Labour led tragedies of 1999 and 1995. The problems that the people of this county endure are borne mainly from Labour's tenure's "in power" not that of the Conservative Party. But what does it matter as long as Capt Kirk, the Mayor and the cabinet have a shiney new LEASED vehicle to drive around on the UNSALTED roads this winter thanks to THEIR LACK OF FORESIGHT (AGAIN) AND A DESPATCHED PREVIOUS USELESS LABOUR GOVERNMENT..”
by Socialist Fool, Ashby
Sunday, August 01 2010, 10:53AM
“I well remember when the Cole Street school was demolished, we were told, to make way for a new Marks and Spencers. Elliot Morley was full of the same drivel Kirk and Dakin are full of now about how a boom is just around the corner because of their innovative policies and commitment to regeneration.
When are we going to realise that these people and the crippling tax burden needed to support them, are the problem?
Government spending does not make us richer, it makes us poorer. Scunthorpe town centre is all the proof we need.”
by Janine, Scunthorpe
Sunday, August 01 2010, 10:52AM
“Labour have been 'in power' for less than 4 years, prior to that we had 4 years of Tory disaster.”
by The Scribe to Capt Kirk and his crews folly's, Pittwood House
Sunday, August 01 2010, 12:33AM
“Both Ashby and Scunthorpe businesses in the last 8 years of Labour council control have had little if any worthwhile support. In both areas they look what they are aged, worn and unappealing to any visitor's eye. As a result more people prefer to go to more modern facilities out of town and in other counties, where their councils have properly invested in facilities and devised initiatives to entice business to continue to invest in their areas - which result in people re-visiting them, unlike our's who have never formulated a proper plan in their 8 years in power. Saying all that I have no doubt that this Labour council cabinet's excuse until the council elections next year will be "Its all the government and the cutbacks fault." Which is all we've had from them since May........”