Brighton and Hove businesses fight parking increases (From The Argus)

Brighton and Hove businesses fight parking increases

6:01pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 in Business News By John Keenan, business editor

Business owners have vowed to fight planned increases in parking charges. At a meeting at the Hilton Brighton Metropole in Kings Road today, traders in the city will discuss ways of overturning Brighton and Hove City Council’s proposals. Under the council’s plans, business owners will have to pay £750 a year for a permit instead of £350. Maintenance company boss Elliot Raggio said he wants to encourage competing businesses to unite in a common cause.

Mr Raggio’s company, On Tap, has a fleet of ten vans to carry out repairs to homes across Brighton and Hove. The parking rises will cost his business an extra £5,000 a year.

He said: “I have brought together a few like-minded business people to develop a strategy to campaign against these price hikes.

“The meeting at the Hilton is invitation-only but then we will take it wider. “This will hopefully sow the seeds of an effort to stop the charges being put into effect.

“The economy is weak at the moment, traders are suffering and these charges will put people off coming into the city.

“This is not the right time to push up parking charges.

“The Green council says it wants to improve air quality in the city – but have they considered the pollution from extra buses?”

Alan Randall director at beach volleyball venue Yellowave in Madeira Drive said the summer rate of parking for one hour on the seafront could go up from £1.50 to £3.50 and the two- hour rate from £2.20 to £6.

He said: “At a time of economic austerity, these charges are more than doubling – indeed, nearly tripling. “For many it is not an option to walk or cycle. “This is true for those who live a distance from the seafront, for parents with young children and buggies, for the elderly and the less fit. “The seafront is poorly served by buses. “The effect of the proposed increase in parking charges could quickly be felt. Seafront amenities could close down for the winter and many might, in these difficult times, simply not survive at all.

“You do not have to go further than Eastbourne or to Hastings to see how rapidly the fragile seafront economy can collapse.”

Andrew Nichol, chair of the Hove Business Association, said he supported the campaign against the price rises.

He said: “The economy is vulnerable and these charges could push businesses in the city to the brink.”

Councillor Ian Davey, cabinet member for transport, said: “We’re mindful of any effect parking price increases might have on businesses and will be monitoring the situation.

“Mary Portas’ recent study on the High Street showed parking is just one of 28 important factors in promoting business.

“So we’ll need to look at a whole range of things affecting business prosperity, not just parking.”