One-hour parking limit sparks shopping fears

1 hour ago

Ethan Saundersin Baswich

News image — Pat and Steve Bird worry the new limit could affect people with mobility issues if disabled bays are occupied

BBC a mana and a women both with short grey hair and glasses. the women is wearing a pink hoodie and the man is wearing a black zip up fleece. — Pat and Steve Bird worry the new limit could affect people with mobility issues if disabled bays are occupied

A haircut, a coffee, a chat with friends, a visit to the butcher and a quick grocery shop.

For many people, that is what a trip to a local shopping precinct looks like.

But at Weeping Cross, on the outskirts of Stafford, traders and shoppers fear a new 60-minute parking limit could change those routines.

The restriction is being introduced at a car park owned by the Central Co-op, which says spaces have too often been occupied by people who are not using its store.

The new limit has prompted concerns from business owners, customers and residents who say the precinct is more than a place for a quick shop.

Shoppers often combine visits to several businesses in a single trip, stopping for coffee, collecting groceries or calling at independent traders nearby.

A sign displaying a 60-minute maximum stay stands in a busy car park outside a Co-op store at Weeping Cross precinct in Stafford. Several parked cars fill the car park, with shops, trees and a partly cloudy blue sky visible in the background. — The Co-op says the restriction is designed to ensure parking spaces remain available for customers

Resident Esmerelda Vaughn said people in the area would be "absolutely fizzing" about the changes.

She said there was already limited parking nearby and feared visitors would end up leaving their cars on surrounding residential streets.

Pat and Steve Bird, who regularly visit Bod cafe, said an hour was not always long enough for people spending time in the precinct.

Pat Bird said they sometimes relied on the car park when nearby disabled bays were occupied because it remained within walking distance for her husband, who uses a walking stick.

"If you go in there for something to eat it's more than an hour," she said.

A young women with her arm round her grandmother. They are both looking at the camera smiling. the younger one is wearing a stripy black and whit top and has dark hair tied back into a pony tail. the older women in the foreground has a black jacket on, sunglasses and straight ashy-blonde hair. — Maisie and Esmerelda Vaughn were both caught by surprise at the new signs outlining the parking restrictions

Traders have also questioned whether the new limit reflects the way many people use the precinct.

Becky Whitehouse, owner of Francesco Group hairdressers, said some appointments lasted well beyond 60 minutes.

"It's gone from all-day parking to an hour, it's quite dramatic really," she said.

A women with white hair, black glasses and a grey top that is stooped over one shoulder. — Hairdresser Becky Whitehouse said some appointments lasted longer than the new parking limit

But butcher Martin Mottershead believes the changes could have a wider impact than on individual businesses alone.

He said many customers combined several errands into a single visit, helping support a range of traders.

"If they're not coming to have their hair done or going into the café for a couple of hours and then saying, 'oh I'll nip to the butchers while I'm here', then I'm losing footfall," he said.

A man with grey hair and a beard. he is in a white shirt with a tie and a butchers apron. He is looking at the camera whilst smiling. — Martin Mottershead feared shorter stays could reduce footfall for independent businesses

In response, the Central Co-op said it owned the car park and had seen vehicles regularly left there by people who were not using the store, making spaces unavailable for customers.

The 60-minute limit was intended to ensure spaces remained available throughout the day while still giving people enough time to shop, a spokesperson said.

The retailer said it did not want to discourage visitors from using other businesses in the precinct and would continue to monitor the new arrangements for any "genuine issues" or "unintended consequences".

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