MELKSHAM Town Council has decided to continue with the town centre parking redemption scheme and to explore how to encourage more shoppers to use the town centre.
The parking redemption scheme, which was first set up in 2011 by traders, allows shoppers to claim back the price of one-hour’s parking after spending a minimum amount in one of the participating shops.
However, due to a dwindling number of shoppers using the scheme and only one shop in the town, Gompels on Bank Street, participating in the scheme, the money-back offer faced the axe at this month’s full town council meeting.
It was revealed that this year, the amount of money being claimed back via the scheme varies between £4 to £8 a month – indicating that very few people are taking advantage of the offer.
Instead of bringing the scheme to an end, councillors decided to give it a reprieve, allowing time for a task and finish group to explore how to promote and encourage traders and shoppers to take part; or to investigate how the scheme could be replaced with another.
Deputy mayor, cllr Jon Hubbard said, “I once championed this scheme and it breaks my heart to see where it is now. I reluctantly accept that this scheme is no longer working and not viable to continue as it is.
“However, I do not accept that it means the town council can’t do anything – I think we need to do a significant piece of work to see what can be done to support our traders in our town centre, and bring people in.
“We have a problem in Melksham that we have three major car parks all in the heart of our town. Every single parking space is in the centre – so Wiltshire Council’s scheme of buying an hour’s free parking from them would be horrendously expensive for us. Introducing this, like Westbury has done, would be very difficult for us.
“But the lifeblood of this town is the High Street and we need to look at how we can help. Every year we talk about promoting this scheme, but nothing is done and it continues to dwindle.
“We need to find something to replace this – something to support our traders in the town.”
Cllr Martin Pain added, “Many traders don’t know this scheme exists. I spoke to one trader who said they would love to participate in the scheme. As their margins are so narrow, if parking goes up and there is no way to refund the people for parking, they may actually lose their type of custom and close.”
Cllr Kathy Iles said, “It would be better if every shop in town did it – there are so few – it’s just Gompels. We need to encourage all shops to take part, then the scheme would work.”
It is expected that the task and finish group will report back to the next full town council meeting in December with their findings.
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