The Vice Chair of the High Street Foundation, Greg Couzens appeared on BBC
Breakfast this morning, watched by over 7million viewers, to discuss Free Parking in Rochdale Town Centre after 3pm
weekdays and all day at weekends.
The debate was was triggerred by comments made by Eric Pickles, the Local Government Secretary who thinks motorists should be able to pop into their local shops to pick up daily essentails and not be issued with a parking ticket.
Mr Pickles also called for local Councils to create more off-street parking spaces to take pressure off busy roads. He said "I believe we need to give people the good grace to pop into a local corner shop for 10 minutes to buy a newspaper or a loaf of bread without risking a £70 fine."
Greg believes free parking is essential to support the high streets and that more parking should be made available in town centres to compete with supermarkets and out-of-town shopping destinations where parking is plentiful and free.
What are your views?
Can't see the video Greg but I completely agree that UK town centers need to do everything to encourage shoppers. Of course, Rochdale is only one of hundreds of towns across the UK where the 'town centre' as we knew it is probably over. A global recession added to online e-commerce added to out-of-town shopping like the Trafford Centre would be bad enough, but to add parking fees and the constant threat of fines to that 'cost of shopping' is utter lunacy on the part of all UK councils. I agree.
ReplyDeleteIn the end though, we will have to face the fact that a new purpose for ALL our town centres must be found in the coming decades. If you can buy goods online, bank online, and send emails instead of using orthodox post, what exactly is the 'centre' for? Unless you can re-invent yourself as a twee little butcher-baker-candlestick-maker village (as nearby Hebden Bridge has done) then shopping alone is never going to be the answer.
Interestingly, Rochdale's one and only advantage (over other UK towns going the same way it has), is that it got to the 'bottom' first. However, many of its buildings are truly superb. The Town Hall is a wonderful piece of Gothic architecture, the Post Office offers a stunning facade over the Esplanade, and the River Roche does offer at least some potential for creating a new 'cafe culture'. But even that won't bring the extra disposable income Rochdale needs from new industries.
So I think we must now re-invent what the centre is for and focus on new business and new economic drivers. Lateral thinking must be the key. For instance, if it were up to me, I would spend much more time and public money investing in digital infrastructure and business development support here, in order to get the coming generations to stay in the town and build new digital businesses here instead of taking their brains to the bigger cities. If Rochdale could build the worldwide Co-operative movement in very difficult times, why can't the next Twitter or Facebook be invented here too?
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DeleteYou have made some valid comments, and we are in currently in the process of addressing the future of a vibrant and sustainable town centre through the Rochdale High Street Foundation.
DeleteThe key to the succes of our town centres will be dependant on a number of factors, which should include the following.
1.High quality and accessible leisure, educational, arts, and community facilities.
2.A convenient and diverse retail offer.
3.Excellent public transport infrastucture.
4.A safe and attractve environment for all.
5.A relevant strategy and facilities to promote business growth and creative enterprise.
6.A distinct sense of place, comunity spirit, and the development of civic pride.
Rochdale town centre has a lot going for it already, fine historic buildings and civic spaces, a rich heritage and great people.
The re-opening of a stretch of the river Roch and the exposing of the medieval bridge will provide it with a unique setting for any town within the region. The new Council Offices are an examplar of modern sustainable design and house a state of the art library.
If we all pull together and work with endevour in the spirit of co-operation, I believe that Rochdale town centre has a very bright future.
Please come along to the next RHSF meeting, as your ideas and views would make a valuable contribution.
Paul Clark
Chair of the Rochdale High Street Foundation