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- 1: As A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics I assure you evidence shows that when free parking is withdrawn business & tourism goes to where it is available.
- 2: As prices increase across the country, I shop where I can park for free during my shopping time. If TWBC bring these charges into play we will be forced to go the extra miles to Tenterden or Hastings for our monthly shop, especially as Budgens has become vastly overpriced and parking restricted.
- 3: Battle shops are continually opening and then closing down. We no longer go to Battle unless we really need to for the Bank due to the parking charges spreading to all car parks.
- 4: Budgens in Hawkhurst gives 2 hour free car parking which is quite a good idea. However you are photographed when you arrive and when you leave, so there is no option for spending more than 2 hours in the car park, unless you want a parking ticket. If people can't relax when visiting a town they will not spend time browsing round shops, having a cup of coffee or chatting to friends that they meet. Surely, this is one of the joys of living in a small country town
- 5: Businesses in Headcorn are suffering after the introduction of parking charges there.
- 6: Cranbrook stands out amongst the other local towns e.g. Rye Tenterden etc as having free visitors parking and will slip from 1st choice if parking charges are applied.
- 7: Cranbrook would suffer more than Tenterden and most other locations, because there is no very large free supermarket car park.
- 8: Due to the introduction of parking fees in Headcorn we no longer visit this location. The same could be said if the fees are introduced into Cranbrook.
- 9: Experience= Not really, but I certainly make use of Tesco's free car park in Tenterden and I will use it more if there is a charge for parking in Cranbrook.
- 10: Experience= Yes, London, Eastbourne, the New Forest.
- 11: From a previous business experience I KNOW that business declines and local shops miss out
- 12: Headcorn has been seriously affected by the introduction of charges at its one and only car park
- 13: Headcorn has lost business since the introduction of parking fees.
- 14: Headcorn introduced charges, I no longer visit the shops there.
- 15: Headcorn is a disaster and I know that many of the shops are suffering. Battle too has suffered a downturn in business.
- 16: Headcorn is a town I visit for various appointments. Prior to the introduction of parking machines I would always stay after an appointment and have a walk around the shops and buy while I was there. Now I only pay for an hour, attend my appointment and leave. Local shops are missing out on all sorts of trade this way.
- 17: Headcorn trade down since car parking charges, Tenterden chaos since introduction of more yellow line to try and force shop workers into paying for all day parking.
- 18: Headcorn village MUST have suffered when the fee paying parking was initiated. The 'Foreman's' car park used to be packed, and is now barely half full.
- 19: I always try to avoid patronising shops and stores who wish to charge me to park. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council seeks to add further expense to local people, at a time when we are all feeling the effects of the recession.
- 20: I avoid fee paying parking areas!
- 21: I don't go to Tenterden because of the parking. I wouldn’t use Cranbrook if I had to pay and display.
- 22: I drive through Headcorn every day on my way to and from work and often would stop to pick up shopping on the way home. Anecdotally, since parking charges have been introduced there has been an increase in double parking in the High Street and in parking on yellow lines. The car parks appear to be less full than before charges.
- 23: I had a small shop in London when the parking wardens were privatised - it was disastrous for our business!
- 24: I live equal distance between Cranbrook and Tenterden. I personally shop in Cranbrook in preference to Tenterden. This is solely due to Tenterden’s parking charges, it is partly the inconvenience of having the right change and partly that if you are a little bit late you know your fine awaits you ...
- 25: I run a small business in Heathfield, when we moved from Tonbridge to Heathfield, parking was free all day, however the council decided to impose a three hour parking limit on several of the car parks that where local to the town and the only car parks that are now free all day are the one's owned by the major retailers in the village, thus keeping the ""passing trade"" out of Heathfield high street, this has had a huge impact on the village and we are seeing businesses close on a regular basis, I can see Cranbrook following the same way.
- 26: I see that Headcorn has suffered from car parking fees introduced. Not my words but several businesses in Headcorn
- 27: I shop at Tenterden, more choice and free parking
- 28: I used to shop in Headcorn, use the hairdressers and the butchers (now a fishmonger). Now they have introduced the parking fees it's pointless. I have switched my local shopping to Cranbrook. If I have to start paying there I will switch to Tenterden. Do you have any idea how constricting parking fees are on ordinary people? Many people spend a long time in these towns, browsing, shopping, having coffee and using the facilities. Any extended period of time spent there becomes too expensive. There is no public transport from my village (Frittenden). It's totally rubbish council management - unforgiveable.
- 29: I work in Spice, three days per week, and many customers have informed me that they choose Cranbrook over Tenterden, Tunbridge Wells and Headcorn for the very reason that they don't have to pay car park fees. Cranbrook has a lovely relaxed feel to it, where people can post a letter, have a coffee, browse the shops and visit the attractions, without the anxiety or clockwatching that the other towns inevitably cause.
- 30: In Headcorn where parking charges were introduce to 'deter commuters' now means that everybody tries to park either on the main road or the side streets thus causing obstruction and frustrating drivers. Go into the car park anytime and it is relatively empty.
- 31: In our 'village', many people avoid the high car parking charges and fine regime by parking in nearby residential streets, which makes it difficult for us residents to find somewhere close to our house to park. When it was free, we had no problems with parking outside our home.
- 32: it is noticeable in Tenterden that Tesco's free parking has adversely affected other shops - such as Waitrose. Even though' Waitrose will recompense you for an hour's parking you are still liable for a ticket if you overrun so most people head for Tesco's free 2 hours.
- 33: Lewes instigate parking charges and max 2 hr stay in all town car parks. As a result one cannot shop and grab a bite to eat - it has to be suffering as a result.
- 34: My mother lives In Rogersmead in Tenterden, where workers now park continually from ca. 7.30 to 6.00pm, reducing a narrow residential road to one lane and forcing cars to reverse 100-200 yds each time they meet. The residents, despite their protests, have been told there will be no change, as the parking is legal. It has made the negotiation of that particular road both uncertain and hazardous - and residential roads in Cranbrook would - WITHOUT DOUBT- suffer a similar fate, giving the whole town an unnecessary and unwelcome 'overload' of parked cars. It would spoil the look of Cranbrook, impair its economy and - most damaging of all, deal a death blow to its charm.
- 35: People I know who work in Tenterden have a nightmare trying to find free parking spaces in the town which then upsets local residents. Cranbrook is a much smaller town and therefore would suffer more - problems for local businesses and workers especially - and make visitors stay for shorter periods
- 36: Similar efforts were made to impose parking charges in Heathfield a few years ago and was defeated. Heathfield has a similar diverse spread of shops as Cranbrook. Parking charges would have destroyed the shopping community and caused the same social issues with off high street parking as envisaged around Cranbrook, with Cranbrook having more 'local' streets to park in.
- 37: Tenterden especially Waitrose car park. The charging system is ludicrous
- 38: The introduction of car park charges automatically changes the visitor's intention from a casual browse to a specific purchase. With this in mind internet purchases or towns without charges will win the contest and if charges were introduced Cranbrook would lose out.
- 39: The introduction of charges at the car park at Northumberland Heath Erith caused the closure of a great many shops who had been there long term. We live for eight months of the year at Marden although our home address is Bexleyheath
- 40: The parish council in Headcorn gave their car park to a private company who now have decided to charge when it has been free for years. Local business have been severely affected, Sainsburys who do not own the car part has seen a drop in trade and The Factory Shop which bordered the car park has moved to Tenterden.
- 41: The same has happened in Battle. Friends who live in that area hardly ever go to Battle now because the car parks are no longer free. Residential roads are used for parking causing inconvenience for residents and hazards.
- 42: There are always plenty of spaces in Headcorn now that they have introduced pay-parking. Surely a sign that people are using it less. I for one use it less although I feel very sorry for the local businesses who must be losing out trade.
- 43: There used to be lots of free parking in Battle and now that has become very rare also. I used to stop there briefly to use the banks and shops but due to having to pay I now give the Town a miss.
- 44: Yes. I lived in London for 20 years before coming to live in Cranbrook
- 45: Used to live in Beckenham SE London. In my experience people will try to park off site causing congestion on local roads around the High Street. This will probably end in yellow lines and resident permit holders bays! My daughter has attended Cranbrook Primary School for the last three years as there were no places available at my village school. The congestion around the school is bad now that the new children’s centre has opened, if free parking is taken away this situation will become worse and be expensive for parents who need to drive through no fault of their own and cannot park!
- 46: When my wife bought her house in the Tanyard, the lawyers stated that the Tanyard was not owned by any person or organisation and therefore access was an issue. Just because TWBC has tarmaced the Tanyard does not mean that they own it. Can the same be said about the other two car parks.
- 47: Where will the residents of the high street with no driveway or allocated parking put their cars...will they get residents parking permits? How ridiculous.
- 48: Yes! hospital car parks charge far too much , when most people using them are stressed or disabled.
- 49: Yes I have previous experience in Newcastle. As soon as parking was prohibited on streets next to freeman Hospital, and the hospital car park was expensive, streets a little further away became parked up and a residents' permit scheme was devised. This cost the residents money
- 50: Yes. Headcorn has suffered. Many people cruise up and down the High Street waiting for spaces to avoid paying at the car park. Also, I am far less likely to shop in Headcorn as I have to pay. it particularly deters people who might only want to stop for one shop or service, as they do not want to park for more than a couple of minutes. I certainly visit Headcorn far less now that I have to pay than I used to. I live in Frittenden and go to Cranbrook regularly.
- 51: Yes. I go to towns where parking is not free as little as possible. I go to Cranbrook as often as possible BECAUSE the parking is FREE..
- 52: You only have to go to Headcorn to see how things are when they begin to charge to park, now all the estates around are full of cars parked as they are free and the car park is, in the middle of the day, not full.
- 53: Personal knowledge of retailers in Headcorn & Battle who suffered a drop in customer numbers & income after charges introduced as well as higher costs as they had to pay staff and their own parking costs
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