Peter Vosper: Parking remains a crucial issue

As the government looks at new ways to bring back businesses to the high street, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged local authorities to create a specialised fund to support pop-ups, markets and temporary use initiatives for first-time businesses to encourage new ventures on the High Street. There are many towns and cities in the southwest where small businesses have been driven to closure by high rents and rates as well as the withdrawal of many well-known national names who have gone to out-of-town shopping centres where parking is easy and free.
An FSB spokeswoman said it is important small firms are provided with the right environment, infrastructure and flexibility to be successful – and in turn help their local economy. She also said business rates remained a huge burden on high-street small businesses, with the current Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) a key part of their survival. The FSB wants the SBRR threshold increased to help small firms. It is also recommending free parking is offered on certain days to help increase footfall and would like free bus travel on certain routes.
The Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said, “Our mission is to bring economic growth to every part of the UK. I welcome the FSB’s thorough and detailed study and we will be engaging with them, and businesses across the country, as we develop our understanding and response to these important recommendations.”
Parking has become a big issue for many shoppers as councils use specialist companies to collect parking fees on their behalf. These companies use apps such as RingGo, PayByPhone, and Just Park. There is normally a base cost for parking set by the car park owner or local authority but when you pay via an app there are often other charges depending upon the commercial agreements. There are extra charges to cover the cost of the app which can be a “convenience charge” or a service or transaction fee of up to £2.49. Local authorities used to absorb these fees but now allow app firms to pass them on. One of the cheapest places to park is Bradford City Centre, where rates can be 70 pence an hour using the RingGo app. RingGo says it does not take any of the fees from the parking charges applied via its app but charges councils a transaction fee, which they can choose to pass on to drivers as a convenience fee. 
Although councils feel the income is vital for them, they will need to balance this with the ease and convenience of online shopping and the desire to bring people into city centres for shopping and other leisure pursuits that bring money into their coffers. This also can be the difference between outside visitors who want the choice of shopping, entertainment, food and drink to add to other attractions. Parking will need to be easy, convenient and reasonably priced where visitors either wish or need to arrive by car.