Improvements needed for shops (From Harrow Times)

Improvements needed for shops

11:05am Friday 14th October 2011 in Your letters

After speaking to traders hit by parking restrictions, I should like to take issue with Harrow Council’s statement that although 14 spaces were removed, we now have 17 others in nearby locations.

It does not mention these are outside Hatch End Station and that they are being used by train commuters and not local shoppers. This is because the station car park charges are now £4 a day, including weekends and bank holidays, and that is why we now have this parking fiasco.

It is obvious no consideration has been given to allow shoppers to trade locally, as who wants to park away from the shops, especially in bad weather. To do this, the public needs parking outside the shops so they can quickly pop in and make a purchase.

After speaking to traders, it is now obvious their trade has fallen by up to 25 per cent, which will only result in more empty shops than we have at present and this is no good for the traders or the area.

We must now ask Harrow Council to reconsider its parking restrictions and call a meeting of all traders affected by these new rules so they can debate what can be done to improve the parking for local shoppers before it is too late and we end up with hardly any shops trading.

Councillor Stanley Sheinwald
Independent, Hatch End ward