Businesses in Prestwich are bracing for a new blow as Bury council plans to introduce parking charges at the town centre's new Travel Hub, a move they say will add to the strain of ongoing regeneration work. The charges, set to be applied to the car park, have prompted fears that the costs will fall on traders and their customers, with one pharmacy estimating a five-year impact of around £45,000 on its staff or the business itself.
Council Says It Cannot Subsidise the Travel Hub
The council has said it needs to charge for parking because it 'cannot subsidise' the costs of the new Travel Hub. However, business owners argue the increased income for the council will come 'at the cost of businesses'. The move has been described as a 'fool's errand' and another 'tax' by those who run local shops and restaurants.
Fin McCaul, managing director of Prestwich Pharmacy, told the Manchester Evening News he is 'worried for the longevity' of the town's small businesses. He said: "We feel that this is a tax on the businesses that are already here. Businesses on the precinct have suffered hugely over the last 18 months while they have built the travel hub and we will continue to suffer while they rebuild the Longfield Centre."
"While the council will be making money out of this, it will be at the cost of the businesses. I worry for the longevity of the businesses and the local people using the precinct while all the development work is ongoing," he added.
Pharmacy Estimates £45,000 Cost Over Five Years
Over a five-year period, Mr McCaul estimates the cost to his employees, or to the business if it opts to subsidise the new charges, will be in the region of £45,000. He branded the charges a 'tax on the ill and the people supporting the ill'.
He added: "That's a lot of money that will be going into the council coffers [and] it just doesn't seem right that it should be at the cost of people who are working in the area." He also noted that patients visiting the doctors or pharmacy would have to pay for parking, which he said "does seem unduly excessive for the elderly and for the sick to be charged for the privilege of seeing a doctor or the pharmacy."
Mr McCaul raised the issue via a public question at this month's cabinet meeting at Bury council. He told the executive the past 18 months have been 'exceptionally challenging' with Prestwich rendered a 'desolate town' as a result of the Longfield Centre's closure and the lack of parking during the travel hub's construction. He called for the executive to postpone the parking charge decision and carry out an impact assessment, or alternatively, to introduce a grace period for those using the pharmacy and health centre and a subsidised rate for employees in the area.
Council Defends Charges as 'Parity' with Bury
Responding, cabinet lead for regeneration and growth Charlotte Morris said the council 'absolutely' wants to support the businesses in Prestwich but has to 'balance' that with a need to raise income to support the car park and 'provide a bit of wiggle room'. In deciding the charges, the council has sought to ensure there was 'parity' with those in Bury, she said.
She added: "There is always disruption with regeneration [...] I take the point on daytime economy vs night-time economy, but where you can park for free after 6pm in Bury, I think it's fair that it is also facilitated in Prestwich. There's also a flat Sunday rate, again parity."
On the possibility of some free parking during the day, Coun Morris added the 'modelling just doesn't stack up' as 75% of people using existing car parking stay for less than two hours. If the council were to offer an hour or two free, Coun Morris said they were 'not confident' they would 'cover the costs', adding the council was 'not in a position to subsidise the car park'. The authority will review the parking charges after six months, she concluded.
Mr McCaul told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was 'not happy' with the council's response, adding he has requested a meeting with Coun Morris and 'looks forward to' discussing the matter further with her.
Other Businesses Share Concerns
Other businesses in Prestwich told the LDRS they share Mr McCaul's concerns over the parking fees. Many stores felt the free evening parking would be of no benefit to them as they would be closed when it comes into effect at 6pm.
Shaun Heslop, manager at The Cobblers Den, said: "The only place that'll be open will be Costa, which is a mega business. If you're going to the pub and driving, you're making a bad decision anyway. I'm only open from 9:30am till 4:30pm." He added: "You've just got to weather the storm, haven't you, really. We're hoping to survive, just hang on here, until [the replacement Longfield Centre] opens. It'll be more business for us but it's taken them 6 months to put them boards up. Slow progress."
Tom Sneesby owns Whole Bunch Wines. He said that anything that reduces people coming into the area will 'naturally have a negative impact' on businesses. Mr Sneesby added: "So, that seems like a fool's errand in an era when local businesses, particularly local high streets, are struggling to get people to come down. The last few months have been a sort of rising tide of problems facing small businesses."
Shabana Rashid, owner of Gallery 786, told the LDRS that businesses are 'already' feeling the 'impact' of recent works. She feels the new hub parking 'should be free'. Ms Rashid added: "I don't think any other business would say that it shouldn't be, if I'm honest with you. The whole point was it was supposed to be for the community. So, if it's for the community, and you've taken away car parks to build houses that they're going to sell and make a profit on, then why charge for the car park?"
Not everyone had a problem with the proposed new parking, however. Samuel Terris Taylor owns The Pearl. He felt the proposed new charges 'seemed pretty fair'. He added: "I suppose because the last one was free, that's why people are upset about it. But the car park does look great, the travel hub, it looks nice. Much nicer than what was there before. So, it's better provision I think."
Lesley Ambrose volunteers at the Cancer Research store in Prestwich high street. She felt the costs were not 'too bad', but said it 'would be better' if there was an option for people to get their money back if they spend in a local shop. She added: "It's really hard to say because everything that's going on around here at the moment has already had quite a big impact on business. With the whole of the precinct being blocked off, it's reduced the foot."
The charges at the Prestwich Travel Hub are set at £1.00 for one hour, £2.40 for two hours, £2.70 for three hours, £3.20 for four hours, £4.30 for five hours, £6.00 for between five and 12 hours, and £16.00 for between 12 and 24 hours. There is a Sunday flat rate of £1.50, free parking between 6pm and 12am, a monthly pass at £60, EV charging at £0.64 per kWh, and cycle storage at £1 per entry.
