BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The latest plan concocted to breath life into the high street is to give drivers a 15 minute grace period to park on double yellow lines, reports the BBC.
According to the report, Conservative ministers think it will give a ‘shot in the arm’ to small shops.
Mary Portas‘ report for the Government has already sparked this debate over whether affordable parking will keep customers heading to town centres, rather than out of town retail parks where parking is, typically, free.
Sustrans’ policy director Jason Torrance has spoken out against the plan: “The assumption that making it easier to drive to the shops will save the high street is fundamentally wrong – the last thing that our high streets need is more parking, more traffic and more congestion.
“Rather than encouraging councils to create dangerous, noisy and congested high streets, the government needs to lead a renaissance – making our streets more vibrant places where people want to meet, socialise and spend time doing their weekly shopping.
“By slowing speeds and discouraging parking, our high streets will become a hub for walking and cycling, creating an atmosphere where people want to linger and boosting local economies.”
Have an opinion? Let us know in the comments below or at BikeBiz@intentmedia.co.uk
