BUSINESSES have slammed Poole council’s decision to increase town centre parking charges

Gabi Naish, a director of Poole’s Business Improvement District (BID), appeared at Borough of Poole’s (BOP) call-in overview and scrutiny committee, which had convened to examine the parking charge decision backed by the council’s cabinet earlier in January.

Mrs Naish, who runs a town centre business, told councillors she was speaking on behalf of 500 Poole businesses which make up the BID project.”We were up in arms about this,” she said. “Poole is a dichotomy, we all know that. We have really ridiculously expensive property along the coast but none of those people come into Poole to shop.

“People who have money don’t shop in Poole - so to increase town centre parking charges is foolhardy.

“This feels like a stab in the back, it feels like the council is trying to hold us back from improving the town.”

The committee, which was told that Poole town centre has 18 charity shops, 52 empty units, and that several high profile retailers had moved out in recent months, later refused to back a motion recommending council leaders defer any parking fee changes.

However, they did agree to insure any future parking fee decision would come to scrutiny committee for debate before cabinet decision - something which did not happen in this instance.

BOP’s cabinet has already agreed proposals to increase parking charge rates at its town centre car parks to £1 an hour, from 80p. The £1.50 flat rate for Sunday parking will also be replaced with Monday to Saturday rates - and a £2 evening/overnight flat charge after 10pm will be introduced.

However, in a letter to the council - delivered before that cabinet decision was made - Poole BID chairman Jonathan Sibbett warned: “These proposals as it will do much harm to the town centre.

“I would also ask that owing to the potential impacts that these proposed changes would have on the economic viability of the town centre, that the current timetable be put back to allow for full and frank debate with all stakeholders.”

During Monday’s overview committee meeting, BOP transportation portfolio holder Cllr Drew Mellor was questioned on the parking charge proposals.

Defending the decision, he said: “It is a choice, we can either have cuts and lack of investment, or action.

“We are investing in town centre car parks, money is being spent on it now - £2.3m of our budget has been invested in our town centre car parks, to unlock £16 m of private investment.”

Last year Poole traders voted by a two-thirds majority in favour off setting up a BID, which will work towards promoting the town centre.