Burrowes and de Bois launch campaign to save our shops from parking charge hike
3rd August 2010
Following the new Council’s proposal to increase ‘pay and display’ charges by up to 200%, the two Conservative Enfield MPs David Burrowes and Nick de Bois have targeted their save our shops campaign on stopping the huge increases. Both MPs will be petitioning shops and shoppers during August and September to highlight the impact the hike will have on the high street.
In previous years the SOS (save Our Shops) campaign was successful in securing free car parking days on the Saturdays before bank holiday weekends. The previous Council had agreed to extend this concession to all bank holidays as well as make parking up to 15 minutes free. By contrast the Labour Council has proposed increasing on street charges from 20p to 40p. In neighbouring Hertsmere parking is free during this time.
David Burrowes MP said “The high street is life blood of our local community and we must do everything we can to support it during this difficult economic climate. Shop owners already have seen their business rates increase this year and this is the worst time to deal with the impact of increased parking charges. The high street relies on being accessible for customers but this hike will drive customers away.”
David added “The Council should pay more attention to recover the overpayment and fraud that takes place with Housing Benefit rather than clobber the high street.”
Nick de Bois said, “"Many of our small businesses in our high street need as much help as possible to keep the customers coming into local shops and not going elsewhere. The Councils huge increase in parking charges will hit them hard and could be the last straw for some shops still struggling to beat the recession"
