Additional Car Park Charges in 30 Towns

On behalf of the Chambers of Commerce, Traders Associations and Business Organisations representing independent retailers and small businesses in the 30 towns proposed for the introduction of car park charges, we are writing to you to urge your party to vote against them in the newly elected Assembly.

Given that it is unclear which party will hold the DRD Ministerial position after the Assembly Elections it is vital that you outline your support for the rejection of these charges now.

The current system in the 30 towns where shoppers can park free for the first hour or two works to ensure a turnover in traffic and prevents people from parking all day. To charge for this could be the final nail in the coffin for our town centres.

These charges will result in more shoppers being forced to go to out of town stores which offer free car parking. At a time when we should be encouraging more shoppers to visit our struggling town centres, this charge is simply wrong.

In our view it is a tax on town centre shopping and must be rejected if our town centres and independent retail sector is to have any chance of surviving this recession.

We fully support the need for a sensible review of policy on car parking. A review should address all day car parking which acts to the detriment of shoppers; it should also promote an accessible and affordable public transport system.

We are committed to strong and vibrant town centres which offer consumers real choice and which support sustainable investment in local jobs.

Furthermore we urge you to do more in providing a level playing field for small retailers in rates, planning and car parking charges.

We would be delighted if you would meet with us at an early opportunity to discuss our concerns.

Yours faithfully

Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, Sinead McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Colin Neil, Chief Executive, Pubs of Ulster, Jonathan Lloyd MPS, President, Ulster Chemists’ Association, Norman Maynes, President, Belfast Chamber of Trade, Art O’Hagan, Chairman, Armagh City Centre Management, William Gilliland, President, Ards Chamber of Commerce, Paul Cochrane, President, Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce, Raymond Ruck, President, Ballymena Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Winifred Mellet, President, Ballymoney Chamber of Commerce,Joe Quail, President, Banbridge Chamber of Commerce, Evan Ward, President, Bangor Chamber of Commerce, Michael McCune, President, Carrickfergus Chamber of Commerce, Karen Yates, President, Coleraine Chamber of Commerce, Brian Jordan, President, Cookstown Chamber of Commerce Charlie Gardner, President, Lurgan Chamber of Commerce, Martin McCrossan, Chairman, Derry/Londonderry City Centre Traders Forum, Patrick Cassidy, Chairman, Down Business Forum, Declan McCrystal, Chairman, Dungannon Traders Association, John Shannon, Chairman, Larne Traders Forum, Philip Kingston, President, Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce, Henry McGlone, President, Magherafelt Chamber of Commerce, Audrey Byrne, Chair, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, Patricia Hegarty, President, Strabane Chamber of Commerce, Joe Kelly, Chairman, Enniskillen Business Partnership, Adrian Farrell, President, Portadown Chamber of Commerce, Loriane Griffin, President, Omagh Chamber of Commerce

Green Party in Northern Ireland Response to the open letter from Chambers of Commerce Traders Associations and Business Organisations re Additional Car Park Charges
ISSUED APRIL, 21 2011

Green Party Leader and North Down Assembly candidate Steven Agnew said: “We are against the planned introduction of parking charges in 30 towns in Northern Ireland. “We fully support the development of our vibrant town centres and small business and are against anything that acts as a barrier to trade for businesses that are already struggling to survive in the recession.

“On the one hand we have the Department of Social Development investing money to regenerate our town centres while DRD seems intent to make life harder for our local retailers. This is another example of the lack of joined up thinking at the heart of government and why voters need to consider a change in how we do business in Northern Ireland.

“This move is ill-conceived as it will drive money away from small, locally-owned businesses and encourage shoppers to go to out of town shopping centres where the parking is free and that means more profits and power for multinational supermarkets.

“Parking charges can only be detrimental for small business owners at a time when sustainable development and local services should be protected and developed. In the manifesto the Green Party published this week, we have proposed many measures to help support small local business as we recognise that they form the backbone of our economy.”