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Gloucestershire Business News

1,000 businesses rear up against new parking scheme

As many as 1,000 traders, retailers and businesses in the centre of Cheltenham and Gloucester are rearing up against a new parking permit scheme.

At risk of being branded before it even gets off the ground as a tax on business and a backward step without any consultation, Punchline is yet to find a fan in favour of the county council's new scheme.

One businessman - among a number who have just paid hundreds of pounds to renew their annual permits only to find those permits will be invalid in a matter of days - is already talking about a class legal action against the highways authority.

Letters arrived with businesses last week informing them of the "improvements to the business permit scheme" which will allow them to only park a vehicle in a given space within their chosen zone for a maximum of four hours.

Currently they pay for a year and then display the permit in their chosen vehicle and that covers it. The new system will mean they can still park all day, but only if they change and re-register the vehicle every four hours.

"It is completely impractical. It feels like just another tax on businesses," said Robert Clingan, who runs the ever-popular Farmhouse Deli on Northgate Street, the café-come deli at the Southgate Street entrance to Eastgate Shopping Centre and a deli at 70-72 High Street, Cheltenham.

The company employs an estimated 35 staff and has been in business for nearly 50 years.

"I have only just renewed our permit, which costs £250 each a year. You are allowed two permits per business. It allows us to still park in the city and that allows me to run our business," said Mr Clingan, whose businesses across

"Now the rules have changed and it is not going to make our life any easier and it looks like no one has spoken to any businesses about this."

Kieran O'Donoghue, of HR Champions Ltd in Brunswick Road, is another business to have contacted Punchline.

"I'm all for the use of technology to make life simpler, but can you honestly say that this is smart use of technology?

"There must be a better way that doesn't mean the risk of a parking ticket because I missed my parking renewal time because I'm in a meeting.

"This has all been done without any consultation with end users and it's being implemented with less than two-weeks' notice."

He pointed out that a firm like Ecclesiastical, also headquartered in Brunswick Road, could have up to 20 permits to deal with.

Miles Mann, who runs four businesses across the county, including what is probably Gloucester's oldest trading retailer - the jewellers GA Baker just off The Cross on Southgate Street - also contacted Punchline. The family business has been trading since 1741.

"I don't usually pick the phone up about anything like this - but this has got my interest," said Mr Mann, whose business has four permits and has used the current system "for years".

"I have just sent them £1,000 for four permits. And now I have received this letter."

He was, he said, happy to talk to the council about the new system - or attend a meeting and make a "lot of noise" if necessary.

"It doesn't matter what the small print might say, I think there is a defacto contract that exists and I think the council is now at risk of breaching it.

"The council could be laying itself open to a class action."

David Burgess, who runs Contour Kitchens, Queen's Circus, Cheltenham, said: "Please show me where I signed up to pay £500 a year for a scheme whereby I need to renew my parking every four hours and cannot stay for longer than that?"

"Things are difficult enough as it is. We are a business trying to employ people and bring people to the town and this is only making life more difficult.

"No one has canvassed my opinion on this. We are happy to be flexible, I am happy to walk a little further to free up more parking, but there is always parking here anyway for customers."

Kevan Blackadder, who runs the Cheltenham Bid, which represents businesses in the centre of the town, said: "This is being introduced on November 1, and yet businesses have only just started receiving letters. And what is the possible benefit of businesses having to re-register their vehicles every four hours?"

"We have had a business suggest it is a backdoor way of increasing revenue for the council."

A spokesperson for the Gloucester Bid said: "From the point of view of the board and the businesses which make up Gloucester Bid we have no issue with the process going digital. But we will be strongly contesting having to renew you parking every four hours - and that you cannot park the same vehicle for more than four hours.

"We have already contacted the county council and we are working with Cheltenham Bid as this is county-wide. There are more than 1,000 businesses in the combined Bid districts."

Punchline editor Mark Owen says: "Traders and businesses which are the lifeblood of our city centre and our town centres. They employ thousands of people and attract visitors and add to our wealth and prosperity. GCC should not be making life more difficult for them it is tough enough to be in business as it is and it has never been as tough against the onslaught of online.

"Business leaders need to spend their time concentrating on the coalface of their companies - not having to deal with more needless red tape and additional costs. For Christ's sake, leave them alone.

"What businesses want is to be consulted. Their fear is if that does not happen soon the council's position will be too entrenched. Then everyone will lose."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council, said, "We're working to make parking easier and more efficient using technology and to ensure the permit scheme works for all.

"We know some businesses have raised concerns and we will carefully consider the views we have received. Those that have recently paid for a paper permit will not need to pay again. "

MiPermit was also unavailable for comment.

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk. Please share on social media (tagging in on Tiwtter @PunchlineGlos).

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