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The council are proposing to introduce pay & display bays on one side of Moor Lane with double yellow lines outside the shops on the opposite side. In addition, it is proposed to place a further six Pay & Display bays in the Front Lane lay-by outside the Cranham Social Hall. Charges would be effective from 9.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday inclusive. The owner of Alpha Autos in Moor Lane said: "We have been here 32 years and would prefer a limited period of free parking as this proposal would impact on local businesses badly." A view supported by the owners of C&D Interiors who said: "Free time limited parking would help local businesses as the scheme already works well in Avon Road." The owner of the Dinasiri Discount shop said: "Most items in my shop are a £1 or less - why would people pay 20p or more extra to park?" The owner of Prestons Village Bakery summed up the views of all traders in the area by saying: "Shops like mine are already competing with the supermarkets, this just makes the challenge greater. It really feels like this council doesn't support small businesses." Phil Wallis, owner of the Cranham Computer Centre, said: "Pay and Display will kill our trade." Annette Spelman, manager of Broadway Hairdressers, said: "People will not pay to shop locally if they can go elsewhere to park for free." The manager of Cranham Chiropodists & Osteopaths said: "It seems unfair in the current climate to penalise small retail outlets. It will affect the local side roads with people parking next to drives" Cranham Councillor, Clarence Barrett said: " Proposals like this go to prove that this conservative controlled council has no idea about local economies. This unbelievably misguided scheme will simply act to deter custom, reduce trading and is likely to lead to the closure of local shops and businesses. The margins for small businesses is incredibly tight and against a backdrop of a general economic downturn, the imposition of schemes like this will only make life much more difficult for our local economies. "It is really important that access and parking to small shopping centres are considered on an individual basis. The parade of shops in Avon Road, Cranham, has a facility to park for 90 minutes free of charge and this has worked very well, meaning that shops stay in business and the vitality of the area is enhanced. This type of initiative would be ideal for Cranham Village - instead we have a proposal that will kill off trade! "It is even more remarkable that, given local councils are set to retain business rates in the future, the council are prepared to embark upon a scheme that will lead to the closure of businesses! On speaking to local traders, Cllr Gillian Ford (Cranham, RA) said: "All traders were in agreement with timed free parking and the proposal for two wheel up parking on one side of Moor Lane; so that parking spaces are not lost. In addition, all were opposed to the loss of parking spaces with the proposed introduction of double yellow lines." The scheme is currently out to consultation, which finishes on 27th January after which the Highways Advisory Committee will consider the responses. The consultation letter and diagrams can be viewed by clicking here . Objections and comments can be made at schemes@havering.gov.uk quoting Front Lane/Moor Lane. 15.1.12 |
Proposals to introduce Pay & Display parking in Cranham Village have been met with an avalanche of opposition from traders, residents and ward councillors alike.