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Friday 28 October 2016

"Supporting town centres with cheaper parking"

Should we be 'supporting town centres with cheaper parking' - or not?
Futures Forum: Cities Without Cars @ Costing the Earth on Radio 4
Futures Forum: "Burdens on the health service could be drastically cut if driving was made less attractive and more people were pushed into cycling, walking and using public transport"

What exactly does 'supporting' the town centre mean?
- supporting independent shops:
Futures Forum: Shop Indie this Christmas - support independent businesses in Sidmouth (2015) 
- supporting cars:
Futures Forum: Free winter parking for East Devon? ... The arguments for and against 'free parking' (2014) 
- supporting small business:
Futures Forum: "Discount parking for Small Business Saturday" (2013)

Perhaps this means 'supporting' the District Council, which makes rather a lot of money out of its car parks:
Futures Forum: Parking in East Devon: where and how much...
Futures Forum: Parking in East Devon: where and how much... part two

Or maybe this means 'supporting' supermarkets, as calls to levy supermarkets and their free parking were rejected three years ago:
Futures Forum: District Council decides against the Local Retail Levy

The reduced car parking fees have been introduced again for winter - as of Tuesday 1st November:

Cheap parking offer returns to East Devon

27 October 2016

Winter shoppers will be able to benefit from cheaper car parking in East Devon, thanks to a returning offer from the district council.

Between November 1 and March 31, East Devon District Council (EDDC) car parks will allow motorists to park all day after 10am for £2.

EDDC says the temporary tariff will not only support local shops over the run-up to Christmas, but will also help boost trade during the traditionally quieter months of January and February.

EDDC also says it won’t just be shops that benefit, as the almost all-day ticket will encourage people to use local cafes, restaurants and pubs and to linger longer over a cup of coffee or a meal.

Last year the offer ran for three months, and business leaders have welcomed this year’s extension.

Chairman of the East Devon Chamber of Commerce Colin Wright said: “The offer was a tremendous success last year across East Devon. 
The five month reduced tariff will be a real bonus for both locals and visitors and will encourage more people to come out and spend their money. We are immensely grateful to the council for supporting East Devon businesses with this very generous car parking concession.”

Councillor Iain Chubb, EDDC’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “We want to support our town centres as much as we can through the quieter winter months. All the feedback we have received from last year’s parking offer showed that it was a great success. It’s a tough time for towns, so we want to do all we can to help traders and the district’s chambers of commerce.

“It will be interesting to see how the five month concession affects trade, but first I’d like to thank all our customers who took advantage of last year’s offer – your custom was a big boost to the local economy.”

EDDC says motorists should note that tickets will not show the expiry time of midnight, but parking officers will be checking that £2 has been paid after 10am, allowing parking for the rest of the day.


Cheap parking offer returns to East Devon - News - Sidmouth Herald

With the full press release from the District Council:


Linger longer over a cuppa with East Devon’s winter parking special offer – only £2 a day after 10am

27 October 2016

Cllr Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council's portfolio holder for the environment

Temporary car parking tariff in East Devon will run for FIVE months from 1 November 2016 to 31 March 2017


Anyone planning to start their Christmas shopping early will be able to take advantage of East Devon District Council’s five-month winter parking special offer, which starts on 1 November 2016 and runs until 31 March 2017. The daily parking tariff of £2, payable after 10am, offers unbeatable value as it enables shoppers to take their time when making purchases, as the ticket will cover them for the rest of the day, up until midnight.

East Devon’s temporary tariff will not only support local shops over the run-up to Christmas, but will also help boost trade during the traditionally quieter months of January and February. It won’t just be shops that benefit either, the almost all-day ticket will, it is hoped, encourage people to use local cafes, restaurants and pubs and to linger longer over a cup of coffee or a meal.

The special offer tickets are available only in East Devon District Council’s 39 pay and display car parks, and excludes Parkmobile payments and Permit Holders. The 10am start time avoids car parks becoming blocked by commuters and (in the case of Honiton, Axminster and Exmouth) by rail commuters.

Customers should note that the ticket will not show the expiry time of midnight, but parking officers will be checking that the £2 has been paid after 10am, which will allow parking for the rest of the day.

Colin Wright, who is Chairman of the East Devon Chamber of Commerce and President of the Honiton Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the parking offer extension from three months to five, saying:

The offer was a tremendous success last year across East Devon. I know that traders in my local town of Honiton really benefited from the reduced parking price, which enabled shoppers to spend longer in shops and cafes. The five month reduced tariff will be a real bonus for both locals and visitors and will encourage more people to come out and spend their money. We are immensely grateful to the council for supporting East Devon businesses with this very generous car parking concession.

Councillor Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said:

We want to support our town centres as much as we can through the quieter winter months. All the feedback we have received from last year’s parking offer showed that it was a great success. It’s a tough time for towns, so we want to do all we can to help traders and the district’s Chambers of Commerce. It will be interesting to see how the five month concession affects trade, but first I’d like to thank all our customers who took advantage of last year’s offer – your custom was a big boost to the local economy.


27 October 2016 - Linger longer over a cuppa with East Devon’s winter parking special offer – only £2 a day after 10am - East Devon
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