🚗 Parking: Town Centres

• Parking Fees Impact on High Streets: Sonia Kumar (Dudley) highlighted the negative impact of increased parking fees on town centres, noting that such fees reduce footfall and hurt local businesses. She mentioned the specific case of Dudley council’s recent fee hikes, which have sparked local debate.

• Balancing Parking and Accessibility: Jim Shannon (Strangford) suggested that implementing parking discounts for longer durations could boost town centre visits, referencing a successful local initiative in Ards and North Down.

• Resident Concerns and Consultation: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) criticized the lack of consultation by local authorities on parking schemes, asserting that such decisions often feel imposed and ignore resident feedback.

• Supporting Small Businesses: Daniel Francis (Bexleyheath and Crayford) supported measures to encourage free short-term parking to help small independent shops, suggesting that reducing fines and offering free parking could aid local traders.

• Innovative Local Solutions: Jas Athwal (Ilford South) shared success with one-hour free parking in Redbridge, which increased footfall and business rates, suggesting local councils should innovate to attract customers.

• Public Transport and Rural Areas: Lauren Sullivan (Gravesham) linked parking issues to inadequate public transport, particularly in rural areas, suggesting improved rural infrastructure could alleviate town centre parking problems.

• Parking Enforcement and Community Impact: Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford) criticized harsh parking enforcement and high fees, emphasizing the need for contractors to support local community regeneration.

• Family-Friendly and Accessibility Concerns: Kirith Entwistle (Bolton North East) focused on the lack of parent and child parking spaces and the needs of pregnant women, advocating for more family-friendly parking designs and stricter enforcement.

• Government and Local Authority Roles: Minister Alex Norris recognized the importance of accessible and affordable parking for town centre vitality, emphasizing that local authorities should consider community needs in setting parking policies. He mentioned that any surplus from parking must be reinvested into community transport or environmental schemes.

• Competition from Out-of-Town Retail: John Slinger (Rugby) highlighted competition from out-of-town shopping centres offering free parking, suggesting councils should innovate to balance this issue.

• Safety and Town Centre Vitality: The Minister also addressed broader issues such as town centre safety and vacant shop spaces, noting that increased footfall and police presence could enhance community safety and vibrancy.

• Legislative Solutions for Accessibility: In response to concerns about parent and child parking, the Minister suggested a possible workaround within current legislation for local authorities to designate specific parking for pregnant women or parents with children.

The session displays a low level of disagreement, warranting a rating of 1. Throughout the transcript, there is a strong consensus among the speakers on the need for better parking policies in town centres. Sonia Kumar, who moved the motion, receives supportive interventions from other Members of Parliament, all of whom agree on the negative impact of increased parking fees and propose solutions like free short-term parking or improved public transport to enhance accessibility and footfall in town centres. The Minister, Alex Norris, also supports the general sentiment, emphasizing the importance of local community involvement in shaping parking policies and acknowledging the challenges mentioned by the speakers. There are no instances of direct opposition or significant disagreement among the participants. The focus remains on constructive suggestions and a collective call for addressing the issues collaboratively.