Parfitt’s Carpets and Interiors: Just one of the many businesses parking charges affect

THE PLIGHT of town centre businesses was discussed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s meeting on March 10.

Taking aim at the Council and attempting to persuade members to back a scheme to reduce car parking charges in Pembrokeshire’s town centres was Leader of the Pembrokeshire Alliance Bob Kilmister.

Cllr Kilmister’s motion was just the latest shot in a long-drawn out battle between those who wish to attract shoppers to towns and those who see parking as a cash cow to be milked for money to help balance the books.

That Pembrokeshire has had historic problems with its parking provision is almost trite, so often has the matter been the subject of reviews, reports and debate in the Chamber and on committee.

Critics say that implementation of car parking charges in popular car parks around the county has contributed in the effort of driving people away, causing an increase in congestion with people parking in neighbouring streets to avoid paying a price to walk around the town.

Some previously free car parks have emptied almost immediately after the imposition of charges, for example at St Thomas Green and Rifleman’s Field.

Despite a report prepared for the County Council which set out that parking charges and their increase would have an adverse effect on town centre trade and that the Council has steadfastly ignored it in order to raise revenue from workers and shoppers while ruining shops and businesses.

Undaunted, Bob Kilmister decided that it was time to make some real progress on the matter as opposed to doing what the Council seems most adept at doing; hanging around wringing its hands about town centre decline without doing a thing to encourage shoppers to return to them.

Pembrokeshire is in the virtually unique position in the UK of having car parks in the centre of the County Town, Haverfordwest, while free bus services – admittedly subsidised by retailers – ship shoppers to out of town retail parks.

During the meeting, it seemed that some – but by no means all – members of the local authority support Pembrokeshire’s town centres in the same way that rope supports the condemned prisoner.

Cllr Kilmister explained to full council how he felt that if Pembrokeshire County Council actually benefited directly from the collection of business rates (100%), the Council would deal with this issue “very very differently.”

He also commented on how he felt that when this matter was raised in cabinet, the notice of motion was interpreted incorrectly. This gave the impression that the councillors present at that time were only mildly interested.

This feeling was intensified, with many of the speakers at the meeting failing to even pronounce Cllr Kilmister’s surname during the course of the debate.

“The Council receives approximately 75% of business rates,” he said. “Empty retail premises don’t have a direct impact on this council’s revenue, but have a huge impact on the economy and employment. It may surprise people, but retail is the biggest employer in the UK by a considerable margin.”

Cllr Kilmster claimed that in 2014, 2.7 million people were employed through retail, with the next biggest sector being construction, and said that: “Since this inception of this authority we have done very little to support our town centres.”

When the charges were first introduced, Councillor Terry Mills went as far as to describe the parking charges in Milford Haven town centre as “criminal,” and that it was “the last thing our town needs.”

As it stands, Haverfordwest town centre is a monument to the ability of local planners to inflict more damage on its local community.

Cllr Kilmister stated that since the charges, car park revenue has “gone in leaps and bounds,” and said that between 2008 and 2009, the Council’s total car park revenue was £51,000. In comparison, next year’s budget proposes an increase in revenue to £584,000 – over 1,000% of an increase in less than ten years.

Mr Kilmister stated that is people believe that has no effect on the economy in Pembrokeshire, then he “truly despair.”

He said: “Take a walk down Bridge Street in Haverfordwest and see what a depressing experience it is. Unless we do something, it’s not going to change. Pots of paint will not bring customers.”

And, he’s right! While retail parks are packed, with barely a space at Withybush Retail Park or Havens Head, town centres are dying. Not only is Bridge Street in Haverfordwest suffering, but Dimon Street in Pembroke Dock and Charles Street in Milford Haven have, and are continuing to pay the price.

Councillor Rob Lewis decided to chip in, seemingly defended the charges currently imposed. He told the Council that his “colleagues from the glorious north” face charges that are three times higher than what the people of Pembrokeshire currently fork out.

Almost as if he was telling Cllr Kilmister that he’s got nothing to complain about, Cllr Lewis said: “Charges don’t just cover car parks – the money is used for traffic management. When we discussed this in July, we recognised this could have an impact.”

Next to address the Council was Councillor Peter Stock, who told the council that the town centres are in a “bad state” – except for Narberth. He claimed that there has got to be some answers and action should be done very quickly. However, he also stated: “I’m not saying free car parking is the answer.”

He went on to say: “I’m sad when I look to see how to town centre has deteriorated. Carmarthen can afford to have charges because there’s something to go there for, we’ve got to encourage people to come in, so we must give them an incentive.”

What do people think?

A petition, which gained almost 9,000 signatures by April 2015, asked the Council not to implement any charges for parking at St Thomas Green Car Park in Haverfordwest.

Despite this, a decision to impose the charges was made in July 2015, and in addition to this area, charges were also introduced in High Street in St Dogmaels, Station Hill in Goodwick, New Quay and Rifleman’s Field in Haverfordwest, Mart Ground in Crymych and Station Road in Pembroke.

As of February 1, you must pay to park at St Thomas Green. The other areas will carry charges with them by the end of March.

Residents at St Thomas Green expressed their upset, and explained that families with two cars would have to buy a permit, which would work out as being expensive – and even then – what’s to stop someone parking in their space illegally?

And, just in that small vicinity is a Doctors Surgery, Haverfordwest Swimming Pool and much more, including people’s homes. Does the Council really want to charge people for visiting a doctor?

Speaking of St Thomas Green, Cllr Stock said: “It’s sad to see the number of times it’s empty and lacking spaces.”

He continued: “If we grasp the nettle – and you do need to grasp the nettle – you must either consider the fact you want successful town centres or not.”

It looked as though Councillor Keith Lewis was about to sympathise with the public, by starting off stating: “I must accept if we were asked as individuals, we would vote for not paying to park.”

However, our hopes were diminished when he stated: “But that’s not the world we live in. There is no such thing as a free car park.”

He did admit, however, that during the time that the ticket machine was vandalised in a car park in Cardigan – so it was therefore out of use – retail increased.

Car parks in Cardigan currently charge £1.40 for an hour, which according to Cllr Lewis, is a ‘significant difference,’ stating the 30-50p charge is ‘perfectly reasonable.’

But, what Cllr Lewis failed to explain, was whether Cardigan’s town centre is thriving, or whether trade has reduced since the charges – an important piece of information, that would most likely, show the latter.

Councillor Mike Evans, who explained that the £584,000 proposed that will come in from car parking charges is profit, with an income of £1.5m, and suggested bringing in free car parking in Haverfordwest and Milford.

When it was time for Councillor Tessa Hodgson to speak, she spoke of how the ‘landscape of British retail is changing,’ and suggested a way of paying for car parking by means of electronics.

She proposed that the Council look at ‘smart technology,’ and said to a room of men how she thinks it a good idea to propose paying for parking through technology as opposed to ‘scrambling for change in your handbags.’

Bringing a personal experience to the table was Council Gwilym Price, who explained that the day before the car parking charges were introduced at West Street Car Park in Fishguard, the car park was full. The day after, he said, it was empty.

He explained: “Car parks should be packed. It’s causing a lot of confusion and a lot of upset.”

What do business owners think?

The Herald spoke to shop owners around Pembrokeshire, to ask whether they thought that car parking charges took a toll on the amount of customers they had coming into their stores. It seemed that the feeling was mutual between them all.

We asked Mr James Parfitt, owner of Parfitt’s Carpets & Interiors Ltd in Pembroke Dock, whether he agreed with Cllr Kilmister, and if he thought that car parking charges have an affect on the amount of people coming into town centres to shop.

Mr Parfitt told The Herald: “I completely agree. I’ve been telling the Council from day one! In the first three months of the car parking charges being introduced, our turnover had fallen by 40% – and that’s just my business.

“Car parking charges are killing our town centres. Paying to park just to have a look around the town is silly, especially when out of town stores are free of charge.

“It’s financially hard on people, and it’s non beneficial to town centres at all. It would be a huge benefit for town centres to have free charges, and if the Council want to regenerate them, Pembroke Dock needs its help.

“We need to encourage people to come into the town centre as much as possible.”

Mr Parfitt went on to explain what he think should be done with regards to parking. He said: “There should be free management parking. We still want the traffic wardens, because they do a good job. They make sure that people aren’t parked illegally, and we’ll need them to make sure we aren’t grid locked.

“There should be free parking for two hours, and someone can pay if they want to stay longer. It will still need to be policed, but it would be the right way forward.”

When asked if Mr Parfitt felt whether free parking would reduce the amount of people parking on curbs, neighbouring streets or on double yellow lines, he said: “Absolutely.”

What does Cllr Kilmister think?

The Herald also contacted Cllr Kilmister after the council meeting, to ask what his thoughts were regarding how the notice of motion was dealt with within the chamber.

Cllr Kilmister said: “I don’t think many of the Councillors actually read my notice of motion. I did not make any clear cut proposals, just suggested that the Council investigates the affect car parking charges were having on trade in our town centres, and suggested some ideas for innovative schemes to try and increase footfall in all our town centres.

“Councillors who rejected this notice of motion must be saying that they are happy with the trade levels in our towns. I am not, and I am sure our hard pressed retailers must be tearing their hair out at the lack of interest shown in their plight by those councillors, who voted against my motion.

“Time is running out for our town centres and the current administration does not understand how desperate things are.”

He continued: “Retailing is the biggest employer in the country, and yet I don’t think many councillors understand the affect car parking charges can have on footfall.

“They lack vision, ambition and seem only concerned with the revenue they are receiving from our car parks. This is short sighted and will further damage the retail economy in Pembrokeshire.”