A WESTBURY trader has written to the leader of Wiltshire Council to highlight the detrimental effect of car parking charges on town trade.
Cyril Linham, of C Linham Traditional Family Butchers in Maristow Street, says that the council’s latest agreement to knock 10p off charges in Salisbury, Chippenham, and Trowbridge – with no help for smaller towns – has only “done even more harm” to small towns because the decision “ignores the sense of desperation” felt.
Cyril Linham, who has traded in the town for some 20 years, told the White Horse News that he cannot recall such a downturn in trade in recent times.
In his letter to Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, Cyril Linham says, “When we had limited free parking, the car parks in the surrounding towns were full all day and business was supported. Since the introduction of these new charges we have also had a dreadful slow-down in business generally. The shoppers are all looking now to out of town sites and supermarkets where, surprise surprise, parking is free!
“Wiltshire Council has now increased car parking charges and fixed the price until 2014. I fail to see how nearly empty car parks generate any revenue, at a guess I should think the revenue has gone down.
“Lastly the reduced charges in Salisbury, Chippenham, etc do even more harm to the small towns because they ignore the sense of desperation there due to lack of trade.
“I beg you to listen to the small town councillors, they are the people who have the interests of their town at heart, and truly represent us, the voters! Ignore them and us at your peril when next there is an election!”
