During their Cabinet meeting this Monday in Shepton Mallet, the Conservative administration at Mendip District Council gave the nod for yet another rise in the price of parking across the area.

In a bid to make more money from motorists, Mendip will raise prices by up to 12% in some places and some tariffs, with others getting 7%. 

Councillor Claire Hudson, leader of the Lib Dem opposition at Mendip said ‘We’ve been campaigning against this kind of thing for years now as we don’t believe putting up parking charges is the answer to Mendip’s financial problems. Members of the Cabinet kept saying ‘it’s in the best interest of the district’ as if they had had this message drummed in to them. Well the Lib Dems don’t think its in the best interest of the residents of the district who will have to pay more when they want to park in one of our towns.’

In disagreement with the move also was Cllr Helen Sprawson-White, Shadow portfolio holder for Regulatory Services who believes these charges will harm small businesses already struggling to survive. ‘It doesn’t take a genius to work out that this is the last thing local businesses need right now. Mendip District Council are ignoring their own priorities when they put short term gain ahead of peoples livelihoods. I welcome the last minute decision to delay the implementation until after Christmas – something I’ve discussed online and on the radio.’

Mendip Liberal Democrats presented a petition of nearly 300 names at the meeting along with data suggesting that over 90% of people online think charges are too high already. 

Cllr Hudson added ‘Sadly the views of these residents counted for nothing’.

See also http://www.frometimes.co.uk/blog/?p=1263, and http://helensprawsonwhite.mycouncillor.org.uk/

Cllr Adam Boyden also stated said that he was ‘shocked’ at the decision. ‘They have totally ignored the voice of the people. I was shocked at how little Cllr John Parham (Mendip District Council portfolio holder for regulatory services) wanted to listen to everyone.  The motion has been passed but I will look into some form of shopper refund scheme, whereby a proportion of your car parking ticket can be reimbursed.  The campaign for fairer parking will continue, I just hope this decision will not affect town centre trade.

‘I do welcome the delay in implementing the increase in charges until February. This was announced at the ‘eleventh hour’ at the meeting itself, after the Cabinet had been placed under pressure by negative feedback from opposition councillors, local residents and businesses.  So this is a victory at least, as people should not now be put off shopping in our town centres over Christmas. And the good news is there will be free parking in Mendip’s car parks after 2pm every day for 2 weeks before Christmas.

‘I also applaud Cllr Sprawson-White’s and others’ work on this issue and her attempt to get across to the Cabinet the feelings of local residents.  I was actually quite shocked at the way the meeting went, as  Cllr Sprawson-White was interrupted several times when making very valid points about the public’s attitudes towards car park charges. 

The president of Frome Chamber of Commerce, also speaking on behalf of the chambers in Wells and Street, stated the higher charges could deter some shoppers from town centres (benfitting neighbouring districts and supermarkets), and asked the Cabinet to delay the decision, to consult businesses (as they had not done so) and to work together on a plan to help increase car parking usage without hurting businesses. But his points were largely ignored. 

One Cabinet member even stated that if organisations like Vision for Frome, the Town Council or the Chambers of Commerce wanted the Council to introduce more free parking or reduce parking charges, with the aim of increasing their use and revenue, they would have to pay the Council to underwrite any losses that resulted!  He also compared car parking charges to the bubonic plague, but voted for them anyway. 

At the meeting, and afterwards, I also asked the Cabinet to find a better way of working with local businesses to help our town centres, as they have the same objectives – Mendip should be “a business friendly” and “town centre friendly” council, and not view the local business community as some sort of enemy. I was promised they would try harder, so we will see.

Since the meeting, Cllr John Parham, the Cabinet member responsible for Regulatory Services, has asked for ideas on car parking.  Here are a few to go on with for starters:

1. Work much better with the chambers of commerce from Frome, Wells, Shepton, Glastonbury and Street.  Consult them in a meaningful way, don’ t treat them as the enemy. Work on ways to encourage, not deter, people to shop in town.

2. Look again at encouraging ‘shopper discount schemes’ that work well in other towns (where dozens of shops, cafes and services have joined together to refund car parking charges for people who spend money there), to encourage more people to shop locally. Make it simple to manage, let local town centre businesses take the lead. (I await to hear why the council have previously dismissed the idea). It could be very positive for town centre businesses.

3.  Consider more free parking and promotional reduced charges days.

4.  It’s time to revise the ‘car park strategy’ and surveys, and consult town councils and local businesses and residents once again. Don’t put people off making suggestions.  Undertake a meaningful consultation, and listen to people.

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