Alter parking charges in Felixstowe town centre to encourage trade!
The Issue
Up until two weeks ago, Felixstowe had town centre parking which encouraged all lengths of stay - there were some 30 minute free spaces, and it was possible to pay for 30 minutes (50p) or an hour (£1.20). That suited an area where many people parked for a shorter period, to call in the bank, or go to a shop, and still provided the option of a longer period, perhaps to go for a coffee or a meal.
But since then, parking charges in Felixstowe's 3 town centre car parks have risen to £1.50 minimum, covering a minimum period of 2 hours. Meanwhile, some of the town's seaside car parks have a 30 minutes free parking allowance, followed by a £1.50 charge taking the total parking time up to 2 hours.
This seems contrary to all common sense. Cost-effective town-centre parking is a big part of Felixstowe's shopping offer, especially for the smaller and specialist retail businesses which are growing in number, but are highly dependent upon ease of access. Seafront parking is more likely to attract longer staying users, and therefore a 30 minute free access period seem of little value.
With modern and sophisticated parking machines now installed, it would be simple to make ajustments to allow a free 30 minute period in town centre car parks, encouraging shorter stay shoppers to visit the shops.
East Suffolk Council says that changes are for simplification, but the town centre parking, effectively rising from 30 minutes for free or for 50p, and an hour for £1.20, up to £1.50 minimum for a minimum period of 2 hours looks like a straight forward major cost increase at the expense of shoppers, and at risk of damage to the town centre's footfall, and therefore subsequent damage to town centre retailers.
The signatories to this petition believe that the East Suffolk Council should immediately institute a free 30 minute stay on Felixstowe town centre car parks, modifying the parking machines to enable this option. It should also consider if it second level option of £1.50 for 2 hours is appropriate for town centre parking where ahorter parking periods are a custmer demand.
Support this petition, and let East Suffolk Council know that they need to rethink Felixstowe's town centre parking costs to encourage both shoppers and traders!
The Issue
Up until two weeks ago, Felixstowe had town centre parking which encouraged all lengths of stay - there were some 30 minute free spaces, and it was possible to pay for 30 minutes (50p) or an hour (£1.20). That suited an area where many people parked for a shorter period, to call in the bank, or go to a shop, and still provided the option of a longer period, perhaps to go for a coffee or a meal.
But since then, parking charges in Felixstowe's 3 town centre car parks have risen to £1.50 minimum, covering a minimum period of 2 hours. Meanwhile, some of the town's seaside car parks have a 30 minutes free parking allowance, followed by a £1.50 charge taking the total parking time up to 2 hours.
This seems contrary to all common sense. Cost-effective town-centre parking is a big part of Felixstowe's shopping offer, especially for the smaller and specialist retail businesses which are growing in number, but are highly dependent upon ease of access. Seafront parking is more likely to attract longer staying users, and therefore a 30 minute free access period seem of little value.
With modern and sophisticated parking machines now installed, it would be simple to make ajustments to allow a free 30 minute period in town centre car parks, encouraging shorter stay shoppers to visit the shops.
East Suffolk Council says that changes are for simplification, but the town centre parking, effectively rising from 30 minutes for free or for 50p, and an hour for £1.20, up to £1.50 minimum for a minimum period of 2 hours looks like a straight forward major cost increase at the expense of shoppers, and at risk of damage to the town centre's footfall, and therefore subsequent damage to town centre retailers.
The signatories to this petition believe that the East Suffolk Council should immediately institute a free 30 minute stay on Felixstowe town centre car parks, modifying the parking machines to enable this option. It should also consider if it second level option of £1.50 for 2 hours is appropriate for town centre parking where ahorter parking periods are a custmer demand.
Support this petition, and let East Suffolk Council know that they need to rethink Felixstowe's town centre parking costs to encourage both shoppers and traders!
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Petition created on 8 November 2020