Press Release

FSB: Stop driving small businesses out of town centres

14 September 2008

Local authorities must reconsider their parking policies if they are to preserve their high streets, the Federation of Small Businesses, (FSB),  will tell the Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Monday as it launches its first mini manifesto of the Keep Trade Local Campaign.

The parking document, one of six manifestos in the campaign, will be officially unveiled at a fringe event in Bournemouth with Party President Simon Hughes, where delegates and politicians will be encouraged to sign the Keep Trade Local petition.

Local authorities in England make almost £1.6 billion in revenue from parking charges and fines, according to figures. It is also estimated that there is a £350 million surplus from parking income per year in England.

The manifesto calls for:

·Local authorities to view parking as an essential service and not as a short term revenue grab

·Parking policy to be seen as an integral part of transport strategy with local authorities including it in their Local Transport Plans

·Parking policy must be tailored to the individual locality with the necessary balance and adaptability to reflect the needs of the individual locality

·Where appropriate alternative parking strategies such as ‘park & ride’ schemes should be considered as well as the innovative use of real time charging structures.

FSB National Chairman John Wright said:

“High streets across the country are the engines of local economies and they depend on sensible parking provision for successful businesses.  Yet this dependence is being undermined by local authorities who treat parking as a quick revenue grab rather than an essential service that benefits local communities and economies.

“Only when parking policies are seen as a service that is bespoke, smart and a fundamental part of an area's transport strategy will independent retailers survive on our high streets and in our town centres.”