FSB: Stop driving small businesses out of town centres

Local authorities must reconsider their parking policies if they are to preserve their high streets, the Federation of Small Businesses, (FSB), will tell the Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Monday as it launches its first mini manifesto of the Keep Trade Local Campaign.

The parking document, one of six manifestos in the campaign, will be officially unveiled at a fringe event in Bournemouth with Party President Simon Hughes, where delegates and politicians will be encouraged to sign the Keep Trade Local petition.

Local authorities in England make almost £1.6 billion in revenue from parking charges and fines, according to figures. It is also estimated that there is a £350 million surplus from parking income per year in England.

The manifesto calls for:

  • Local authorities to view parking as an essential service and not as a short term revenue grab
  • Parking policy to be seen as an integral part of transport strategy with local authorities including it in their Local Transport Plans
  • Parking policy must be tailored to the individual locality with the necessary balance and adaptability to reflect the needs of the individual locality
  • Where appropriate alternative parking strategies such as ‘park & ride’ schemes should be considered as well as the innovative use of real time charging structures.

FSB National Chairman John Wright said:

“High streets across the country are the engines of local economies and they depend on sensible parking provision for successful businesses. Yet this dependence is being undermined by local authorities who treat parking as a quick revenue grab rather than an essential service that benefits local communities and economies.

“Only when parking policies are seen as a service that is bespoke, smart and a fundamental part of an area’s transport strategy will independent retailers survive on our high streets and in our town centres.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 215,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk

For information, updates and to view the Keep Trade Local manifesto visit the website at www.fsb.org.uk/keeptradelocal. The FSB has also set up a Keep Trade Local Petition on the Number 10 website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/keeptradelocal/.

Figures from the Federation of Master Builders shows that local authority revenue from parking charges and fines has reached almost £1.6 billion in England. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Research estimates that there is a £350 million surplus from parking income per year in England.

For a copy of the parking manifesto email marc.shoffman@fsb.org.uk

Contacts:

Stephen Alambritis: 020 7592 8112 / 07788 422155
Prue Watson 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125695
Marc Shoffman 020 7592 8113 / 07595 067068

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions