We are pleased to share that Clevedon Town Council (CTC) is now progressing with legal action in relation to on street parking charges in Clevedon.
Discover Clevedon, alongside a working group made up of local business owners, have been working closely with CTC on this matter, and we are very encouraged to have their continued support on what remains a critical issue for our towns businesses.
You can read more about this development in CTC’s announcement here
The charges could likely have a significant and detrimental impact on the traders in the area. This has been seen in other parts of the country including Nailsea, Thornbury and Keynsham, where parking charges have been recently introduced, and footfall has reduced by over 30% in some areas.
Some of the businesses are already struggling with rising costs and reduced consumer spending, so deterring customers from coming to browse, visit the cafes and other businesses could seriously impact them.
Importantly, this issue is not unique to Clevedon. A recent BBC report highlighted a similar situation in Wirral, where proposed parking charges have faced significant opposition and legal challenge. As a result, the council has been forced to reconsider and review its plans.
This is highly relevant to Clevedon. It demonstrates that:
– Concerns raised by businesses and communities about parking charges are being taken seriously elsewhere
Legal challenge can be an effective route to scrutiny and change
There is growing national attention on how parking policies impact local economies and high streets.