Because first impressions last! If we want more people to visit the town centre, they need to be encouraged into the town. Parking in the Southampton Street Car park does little to show visitors that there is a beautiful market square less than 100 metres away. If at the very least the car park was well maintained with no potholes and well planted flower beds it could entice people to explore the town more.
For local residents to have pride in the place they live, clean it up and make it somewhere that locals want to be and more people will naturally be encouraged into the town. Small things can make big difference!