Traders want free parking as town set for 18 months of roadworks
Last updated at 12:54, Wednesday, 14 January 2009
TRADERS are calling on council chiefs to introduce free parking in Barrow during 18 months of roadworks.
Cumbria County Council is set to start work on Dalton Road, Portland Walk, Cavendish Street and Scott Street in March. Shopkeepers fear the latest revamp of the town centre will put shoppers off coming into the town.
And the retailers are so concerned about the impact of the work they have requested Barrow Borough Council’s help while it is taking place. Alistair Simpson, a member of Barrow Traders’ Association, said: “We’ve asked the council, because of the worsening economic situation and the proposed works on Dalton Road, Portland Walk, Cavendish Street and Scott Street, to look into providing free car parking for some or all of the duration of the works. Obviously, it’s a very difficult time for the town centre and further major disruption from the roadworks could have a devastating effect on some traders.”
Caren Hindle, parking services manager for the council, said: “There’s been a request from the traders to the council to offer some kind of parking concessions whilst the roadworks are going ahead. It’s a request that’s being considered by members of the council.”
Whatever the councillors decide, they are highly unlikely to make all council car parks free all day during the work. The council’s income from off-street car parking is around £1m a year.
Mrs Hindle said the traders were only asking for “some free short-stay parking” in council car parks. The design for the Dalton Road and Portland Walk area will be drawn up in May and the contractors will start work in September. It could take up to a year to complete, but Cumbria County Council engineer Kevin McGeough says that it might be done in just 10 months.
Work on Cavendish Street, Scott Street and the market area is expected to start in March 2009 and be finished by early July. Mr McGeough, area engineer for Barrow, said that the enhancement work will unavoidably cause some disruption to town centre traders.
He said: “It’s bound to have an impact. I’m going to see the Traders’ Association this evening at their meeting to speak about it.
“But lessons can be learned from Phase 1, the last enhancement work that was done to Dalton Road at the Abbey Road end.
“At times it appeared that the whole road was dug up and just one man was working on it. But because of the intricate pattern in the paving you could only get one man in at a time.”
He added: “It will create a better look to the road surface and paving areas and will be consistent with the design of Dalton Road at the Abbey Road end.”
Mr McGeough was unable to provide details of the cost of the works before the Evening Mail went to press this morning.
Barrow Borough Council chief executive Tom Campbell was unavailable for comment.
First published at 11:53, Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I used to shop in Barrow weekly, now I shop online or use the supermarkets. The drive into Barrow is now a hassle (since all the 'improvements'), the parking nightmarish and with traffic wardens waiting like vultures, is it any wonder people are looking elsewhere? With the likes of M&S jumping on the buy a carrier bag wagon (despite their own excessive packaging) I don't even buy groceries there anymore.
Barrow is in danger of dying unless someone takes a serious look at the issues.
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I agree FREE PARKING or reduced Car Parking in Barrow Town Centre would be a god send I live in the Town Centre and I for one cannot Park in my street because People will not pay to go into a car park they are to expensive
So I have to PARK where I can.
Posted by Jenny English on 27 February 2009 at 13:12