Thousands sign town council’s petition against Sunday parking charges

OVER 5,000 people have signed a petition created by Frome Town Council objecting to Mendip District Council’s proposed Sunday parking charges.

Created on Friday 11th May, the petition quickly gathered support, with 5,778 people registering their name at the time of going to press.

The petition was presented to the district council at their cabinet meeting on the evening of Monday 21st May, when they were due to discuss the proposed changes.

Appealing to the district council prior to the meeting, cllr Nick White said,  “Frome has worked hard to create a vibrant and successful Sunday economy, which has social as well as economic benefits.  Parking charges will set this back and possibly kill off the Independent Market.  Please think again.”

As the cabinet meeting took place after Frome Times went to print, the result of the car parking discussion will be reported in the next issue.

The petition can be viewed at: www.change.org/p/petition-to-mendip-district-council-to-reconsider-sunday-car-parking-charges-in-frome

Negative impact of parking charges on local businesses

FOLLOWING the recent news of Mendip District Council’s plan to introduce Sunday car parking charges in the town, Frome Times spoke to local businesses Cheese and Grain and The Old Bath Arms, to discuss what impact Sunday parking charges could have on customer footfall.

The news of the introduction of Sunday charges, that  could come as soon as late July, has sparked fears for Frome’s economy, especially to the revenue generated by Sunday trading across the town.

Richard Findlay at The Old Bath Arms said in a letter to Mendip District Council, “I am absolutely stunned and completely confused by the council’s discussions regarding the viability of penalising visitors who choose to visit Frome town businesses.

“Sunday is the most expensive staff expenditure day for us because we target food customers on Sundays! Appealing to food customers encourages employment in the local food trade – why would you interfere with this? Now one of the biggest appeals on a Sunday to Frome town centre, they want to take away.

“I am struggling to understand exactly what the councils do to warrant this move financially, other than budgetary greed. My advice to you folks is do not under-estimate the contribution that small businesses have made to the development of Frome town.”

Steve Macarthur at The Cheese and Grain told Frome Times that he hopes the district council will pause and really take a look at the possible impact that Sunday parking charges could affect a lot of local businesses, charities and groups in the town.

He said, “Sundays are when the Cheese and Grain holds regional and national events where businesses and events choose to come to Frome, such as tattoo conventions and our upcoming South African event, where up to 3,000 people come through the door. I don’t know what we would do if they started charging for parking on Sundays; it would could be the end of Sundays at the Cheese and Grain unless they take time and investigate.

“Mendip have had no contact with us, or any other local business such as the canoe club or the Independent Market, during the consultation phases, so it is very difficult to work out the impact it will have. I can only suggest that Mendip pause and do not make a rash decision and crash into something.

“Also, what will they do when people take to street parking? There are areas in the vicinity of the Cheese and Grain where street parking is allowed over the weekends and with the new houses being built in the area, it means an increase of cars!

“I’m sure that it won’t make any money anyway, after they have paid to enforce the new charges. I recognise that they need to make money, but I don’t think this is the right way of doing it.”

Leader of Frome Town Council, cllr Toby Eliot, issued a statement last week saying, “The introduction of Sunday charging is a completely misguided act. The only motive is to make money to prop up Mendip’s fragile budget.  Their car parks generate income for Mendip measured in the thousands.

“It’s purely financial opportunism …” here’s an opportunity to get some cash, let’s take it” … without any thought on the impact for the Cheese and Grain, the Westway cinema, the canoe club or the Independent Market. It will inevitably reduce trade across the town in the shops and cafes. Weekday charges and season tickets are also set to rise in price.”

There is currently a petition, created by Frome Town Council, inviting people who are against the new parking changes to sign. You can view it at https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-mendip-district-council-to-reconsider-sunday-car-parking-charges-in-frome where it has currently been signed by over 5000 people.