Some facts.
1. People are feeling the financial pinch and every penny counts.
2. High Street consumer spending is suffering
3. Out of town shopping and internet sales are fast eroding high street sales.
4. Most retail stores are facing increased rents on 'upward only' rent review leases.
5. Retail stores are increasingly affected by increases in utility prices.
6. The business rate has increased by a national average of 4.5%
7. For Hay-on-Wye, an additional threat is the increase in popularity of e-books.
8. Parking charges are a major factor in people deciding where to shop
According to the BBC news tonight, (Tuesday 28th June) Swansea has introduced a £1.00 set half day parking charge in one of its city centre car parks, reduced from £4.50. The plan is to increase this offer to more city centre car parks.
Bridgend are charging £1.00 to park in the town centre on at least one day a week.
Newport makes no charge for the first two hours parking in town centre car parks.
All sensible approaches in an effort to encourage town centre shopping.
Powys County Council has recently increased car park charges and recruited ten Parking Wardens (Civil Enforcement Officers) to police car parking throughout the county!
Draw your own conclusions.
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