In Early December 2009 the Weald Business Association used questionnaires to find out what Cranbrook Businesses felt about the TWBC proposal.

Here are some of their comments. Click on the tabs to see the comments as related to a particular question topic..


  • 1: All staff travel to town between 5 and 30 miles a day
  • 2: At approx £5 I will park in side streets
  • 3: Cannot afford to pay the stupid charges proposed
  • 4: Can't afford to pay car park charges every day so will find all side-streets clogged up
  • 5: Car park and pay or public transport. Will do either see how it goes
  • 6: Car Share!
  • 7: Concerned effect on local residents as people avoid car park. (Not possible to take public transport and No to park in car park and pay)
  • 8: Cranbrook already over sub-scribed so parking in side streets increasing!
  • 9: Harder to find staff willing to pay to park as this has an impact on their income
  • 10: Have own parking
  • 11: I live on equestrian premises in rural area, without any other transport means. This will be a big factor for staff working for me
  • 12: I will campaign TWBC for better lighting, landscaping, more frequent emptying of recycling bins, more frequent litter picking, grass cutting etc etc i.e. it will cost them
  • 13: I would park in my garage if at all possible but because cars park in the Tanyard (the lane between Stone St & the Tanyard car park) this would make it impossible for me to have access to my garage thus making me use the car park and having to pay.
  • 14: Most people who work in Cranbrook and have to drive in will not be able to afford the parking fees and will be forced to park in the side streets, this of course will annoy those who live there as the side streets are already crowded, this will not make for good relations between local people and businesses
  • 15: Most staff are minimum wage and therefore cannot afford parking charges
  • 16: No staff drive to work - therefore local jobs will be lost!
  • 17: Our own car park will also be used. It will probably be abused by other shops staff and customers
  • 18: Public transport. Again, as a charity we can't afford to cover the cost of volunteers parking and paid staff are on a low wage
  • 19: Public transport. Where would you suggest them park???
  • 20: Presumably the side streets will then have Double Yellows, ruining the town further.
  • 21: Public transport - impossible in view of location of staff homes. Most staff will avoid the charges if at all possible
  • 22: Public transport is not available for my staff.They all rely on cars/walking where possible
  • 23: Side street parking will soon fill up
  • 24: Side streets. Public transport inadequate. There will be less available side-street parking. Some part-time staff will possible resign
  • 25: Staff cannot afford £1,000 per year & neither can I
  • 26: Staff will not want to take parking costs from their own wages
  • 27: Taking public transport costs too!
  • 28: The introduction of parking will make staff find alternative free places to park if available
  • 29: This will be an unwarranted increase in our costs
  • 30: Walk to work
  • 31: We all need cars for our job and won't be able to afford car park charges
  • 32: We have our own limited parking. Staff will park in side street
  • 33: We may struggle to
  • 34: Weald Salaries do not have the extra monies to pay out for parking
  • 35: We will do everything to avoid paying even if it inconveniences some residents
  • 36: Will have to think about whether staff can afford to work in Cranbrook
  • 1: Browsers will not consider it worth the trip - perhaps go to Tenterden
  • 2: Charges will put people off visiting Cranbrook
  • 3: Customers have said they'd go to T.Wells to get larger range of shops if they have to pay
  • 4: Customers may be inclined to shop elsewhere or on line
  • 5: Customers may choose to go elsewhere where there are no charges
  • 6: Definitely. Many people will think they may as well go to Tenterden for more choice if they have to pay anyway
  • 7: Every likelihood
  • 8: May deter those clients presently used to dropping by for a quick meeting
  • 9: More people that are not using hotel will use our Hotel car park
  • 10: My clients live on country lanes & equestrian establishments where own transport is paramount. Parking charges will add to their everyday travelling costs & divert their business elsewhere
  • 11: Not sure. Concerned disabled access to surgery if people park on yellow line outside practice
  • 12: OBVIOUSLY
  • 13: Our clients are very often short of money, so will not be able to afford to pay parking charge
  • 14: Patients comment on how pleasant it is not to pay. That is why they come to Cranbrook
  • 15: People may choose to come into the Town less frequently when they have to pay
  • 16: Visitors and owners often drop-in and they are less likely to visit Cranbrook
  • 17: Who really knows??
  • 18: Who wants to pay for parking?
  • 1: Almost certain decrease in turnover
  • 2: Customers will go elsewhere
  • 3: Extra parking charges @ daily rate
  • 4: If customers decrease, the running costs stay the same
  • 5: If side streets are full or restricted staff will have to use car parks
  • 6: If we introduce a scheme, whereby we refund some of the customers parking charges to try and keep the business going.
  • 7: Income will reduce
  • 8: May have to subsidise staff parking
  • 9: My personal costs will increase
  • 10: No because I don't park in the town
  • 11: Of course, because I will have to pay for 6 days a week parking
  • 12: Oxfam will pay out of its till
  • 13: Parking charges will add to my business costs on top of already heavy business council rates & rent, & if staff expect to have parking permits included in their package - even more so
  • 14: See above. If volunteers have to use the car park - then their costs wil be reimbursed and our costs will increase
  • 15: Staff will expect pay rise to cover increased costs
  • 16: Staff will want pay rises to offset cost of parking and retail prices to increase
  • 17: Still looking at whether we will decide to subsidise parking
  • 18: Street Parking!
  • 19: The biggest change will be that our car park will be full, as people will use car park as its free - and our residents will have nowhere to park
  • 20: Unknown
  • 21: We will almost certainly have to absorb some, if not all, of the costs. Possibly £12,000 pa extra cost
  • 22: We would have to help staff with the cost of parking if they have to use the car park
  • 1: All staff travel to town between 5 and 30 miles a day
  • 2: At approx £5 I will park in side streets
  • 3: Cannot afford to pay the stupid charges proposed
  • 4: Can't afford to pay car park charges every day so will find all side-streets clogged up
  • 5: Car park and pay or public transport. Will do either see how it goes
  • 6: Car Share!
  • 7: Concerned effect on local residents as people avoid car park. (Not possible to take public transport and No to park in car park and pay)
  • 8: Cranbrook already over sub-scribed so parking in side streets increasing!
  • 9: Harder to find staff willing to pay to park as this has an impact on their income
  • 10: Have own parking
  • 11: I live on equestrian premises in rural area, without any other transport means. This will be a big factor for staff working for me
  • 12: I will campaign TWBC for better lighting, landscaping, more frequent emptying of recycling bins, more frequent litter picking, grass cutting etc etc i.e. it will cost them
  • 13: I would park in my garage if at all possible but because cars park in the Tanyard (the lane between Stone St & the Tanyard car park) this would make it impossible for me to have access to my garage thus making me use the car park and having to pay.
  • 14: Most people who work in Cranbrook and have to drive in will not be able to afford the parking fees and will be forced to park in the side streets, this of course will annoy those who live there as the side streets are already crowded, this will not make for good relations between local people and businesses
  • 15: Most staff are minimum wage and therefore cannot afford parking charges
  • 16: No staff drive to work - therefore local jobs will be lost!
  • 17: Our own car park will also be used. It will probably be abused by other shops staff and customers
  • 18: Public transport. Again, as a charity we can't afford to cover the cost of volunteers parking and paid staff are on a low wage
  • 19: Public transport. Where would you suggest them park???
  • 20: Presumably the side streets will then have Double Yellows, ruining the town further.
  • 21: Public transport - impossible in view of location of staff homes. Most staff will avoid the charges if at all possible
  • 22: Public transport is not available for my staff.They all rely on cars/walking where possible
  • 23: Side street parking will soon fill up
  • 24: Side streets. Public transport inadequate. There will be less available side-street parking. Some part-time staff will possible resign
  • 25: Staff cannot afford £1,000 per year & neither can I
  • 26: Staff will not want to take parking costs from their own wages
  • 27: Taking public transport costs too!
  • 28: The introduction of parking will make staff find alternative free places to park if available
  • 29: This will be an unwarranted increase in our costs
  • 30: Walk to work
  • 31: We all need cars for our job and won't be able to afford car park charges
  • 32: We have our own limited parking. Staff will park in side street
  • 33: We may struggle to
  • 34: Weald Salaries do not have the extra monies to pay out for parking
  • 35: We will do everything to avoid paying even if it inconveniences some residents
  • 36: Will have to think about whether staff can afford to work in Cranbrook
  • 1: As much as possible
  • 2: Cannot afford to
  • 3: Cannot afford to
  • 4: Depends on the cost of all-day parking
  • 5: For what reason? Will you pay my staffs costs especially in a recession?
  • 6: I cannot afford to do this but don't want to lose my staff
  • 7: I could not afford to subsidise parking for my staff
  • 8: I will have to help them pay for the car parking
  • 9: If I have to.
  • 10: In this economic climate we cannot afford it
  • 11: No need
  • 12: No staff with cars
  • 13: Not Decided
  • 14: Of course, we shall have to pay these costs
  • 15: Or in full. It is difficult already to attract new staff (especially younger ones) because of lack of bigger town facilities
  • 16: Possibly have to - will reduce employment
  • 17: Staff are becoming a luxury
  • 18: Taxable benefit. More tax!
  • 19: We are only a small business - council should give priority free parking
  • 20: Will depend on cost and whether profits allow

  • Effect on business income

  • Effect on footfall, customer visits..

  • Effect on Business Costs

  • Where will you park if charges are introduced

  • Will you subsidise staff parking costs