Latest news with #independenttraders
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Clevedon traders in protest against on-street parking charges
Some independent town traders wore black funeral clothing as they staged a protest against proposed parking charges, which they warn will kill-off October, North Somerset Council voted to introduce on-street and car parking charges in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead, as a way to balance its shopkeeper Judith Levy, who took part in the demonstration on Hill Road, said: "We've seen it happen in other places where independent shops start closing up and it would be awful if it were to happen here."North Somerset Council said it "needs to save £44m over the next three years after reduced national government funding". Charges are set be introduced following a consultation of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which closes on 18 July. A council spokesperson said it has seen an increase in demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children's services, along with rising added: "We've had no choice but to review all areas of council income generation and spend, including making the difficult decision on introducing parking charges across North Somerset."But some independent shopkeepers accused the local authority of being careless with their spending. "I understand the council need to balance their budget but part of the problem is their own making with the big mess they've done on the seafront", said Ms Levy, referring to the removal of the controversial wiggly road markings which cost about £1.5m."We've already lost about 30% of trade since the seafront debacle", she said, claiming businesses have seen lower footfall after the removal of sea-facing parking in Clevedon and the introduction of a one-way system."Since then all the traders on Hill Road have found it harder. It hit the reputation of the town and it stopped a lot of people coming," she added. North Somerset Council hopes to raise a million pounds as it seeks to balance its leader Mike Bell, previously said parking hikes were "unavoidable", warning the council "was in a financial emergency".Ms Levy, who runs a retail and yoga studio on Hill Road is also worried about the impact new charges can have on nearby roads."Our street will be paid parking which means residential streets around it will be full of cars because people will try to avoid paying," she said. She suggested having a park and ride into town. Discover Clevedon, which represent traders, has written to the council saying a 30-minute free parking period was not included in the recently published Traffic Regulation Orders."The published TROs do not accurately reflect the decision previously made by North Somerset Council to include a 30-minute free parking period for on-street parking," the letter said."This omission means that the proposals do not present an accurate basis for respondents to comment on, effectively removing the opportunity for stakeholders to fulfil the statutory requirements of the TRO consultation process."North Somerset Council did not respond to the claims, but has invited residents, businesses and other organisations to comment via their website. They added: "All comments received will be reviewed and a decision will be taken shortly on the next steps regarding introducing parking charges in Clevedon."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'We do not want cars banned from our High Street'
DROITWICH people do not want to see a ban on cars in the High Street, claims a councillor after an important survey. Councillor Daniel Birch has called for notions of pedestrianising Droitwich's historic High Street to be put to bed after a recent traffic and speed survey. Some residents previously called for the narrow street to become pedestrianised after concerns were raised over the use of cars and speeding. A recent traffic and speed survey requested by Droitwich Small Business Association found vehicles travelled at safe speeds and a significant number of cars use the High Street regularly. RECOMMENDED READING: Garden centre scraps animal section to make way for 'exciting' development Plans to repair bridges which pose safety risk at National Trust site 'Hidden gem' cafe rated the best coffee house in Worcester (again) Cllr Birch said the findings show how important shoppers found the High Street. "Many customers value the ease and convenience of being able to drive and park close by," he said. "Taking that away would make access harder, particularly for those with mobility issues. "The High Street itself already poses challenges—it is steep and uneven due to the town's salt-based geology, giving us our unique and historic 'wonky' street. "While we're proud of this, it does mean accessibility is already a concern. "Running a business is hard enough. The last thing our independent traders need is another barrier that discourages footfall or deters loyal customers." He added that preventing cars from accessing the street would not serve the best interests of local businesses or residents. A graph showing the results from the survey. (Image: Dan Birch) The results of the survey found that 890 vehicles use Droitwich High Street daily and 100 per cent of these vehicles travelled at or below the 30mph speed limit. The majority were found to have travelled half the speed limit on the road. The survey was conducted between June 16 and June 24. It is feared that if the area is pedestrianised, High Streets could lose out on up to 890 potential customers. Cllr Birch added: "While local businesses support the idea of improving the street with additional planting and street furniture to enhance its look and feel, full pedestrianisation simply isn't right for Droitwich. "As your county councillor, and as long as vehicle speeds remain safe, I will continue to oppose any moves to pedestrianise our High Street. "Let's support our businesses, not make life harder for them."
