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Parking charges 'will reduce our footfall'

Richard Stead
BBC News, Manchester
BBC A traffic light road sign above another sign which reads 'Brabyns Brow Free' on it, can be seen in the foreground, with trees and a hilly road with cars driving on it in the background on a sunny day with blue skies. BBC
Charges will be introduced at car parks across Stockport including this one in Marple Bridge

Shopkeepers fear car parking charges set to be introduced in April will "reduce footfall" in their villages.

The charges will apply in local centres across Stockport where its currently free to park.

Several traders in Marple Bridge and Woodley have pleaded with the council for a rethink, urging them to find cash from other parts of their budget.

Stockport Council said: "Introducing parking charges is never an easy decision and we fully understand the impact on residents."

A man wearing a checked shirt and brown leather overall, smiles at the camera as he stands in a shop. There are pies in a counter to his left, with jams and other preserves on top of the counter, and wine bottles on a shelf behind him.
Paul Dutson runs a delicatessen store in the Stockport village of Marple Bridge

The charges will be introduced at 21 car parks including in Reddish, Cheadle Hulme, High Lane and Davenport.

Drivers will be charged 50p for an hour rising to £2.40 for ten hours.

The council said a key principle for the introduction of charges is to support its approach to tackling climate change by encouraging active travel.

But Paul Dutson, who runs a delicatessen store in the village of Marple Bridge, said: "It's been rather secretive and around 90% of our trade is to local people."

Caron Gardner, wearing glasses, with dark hair tied back, smiles at the camera as she stands in a clothing boutique shop.
Clothes shop owner Caron Gardner fears losing business from browsers

Caron Gardner, who owns the Browse ladieswear boutique in Marple Bridge, is concerned about charges being introduced at the nearby Brabyns Brow car park.

She said: "We are just not going to get the footfall, we are going to lose people who just want to nip into the village to browse."

A man with grey hair, wearing a green checked shirt, smiles at the camera as he leans against a chip shop counter.
Richard Noble's customers park up to pick up their fish and chip orders

Richard Noble, who runs the Town Street Fryer fish and chip shop, said he relies on people parking for a short time to pick up their food.

"We need customers to be able to park without having to go to a machine and pay for a ticket.

"It'll just deter people from coming to Marple Bridge."

A woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a grey dress. Behind her is a white shelf with dog collars hanging on it, and two pictures of dogs with paw print stickers on a wall behind her.
Katie Fenna says she relies on passing trade for her dog grooming parlour in Woodley

Redhouse Lane car park in Woodley sits next to Saint Mark's Church of England Primary School and is used by parents to pick up their children.

Katie Fenna, who owns the Snobby Dogs grooming parlour in Woodley, is concerned about her customers who often use the car park to pop into her shop.

"We are reliant on passing trade and the council need to support local businesses," she said.

Three cars are parked in a car park next to a road with a school on it.
It is currently free to use the council-owned Redhouse Lane car park in Woodley

Councillor Grace Baynham, cabinet member for parks, highways and transport services at Stockport Council, said it "wasn't an easy decision" to introduce charges.

"Like councils across the country, we have to find ways to protect vital services such as libraries, pools, parks and social care.

"With 75% of our budget supporting vulnerable adults and children in Stockport, these changes help ensure we can continue delivering those services."

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