New parking charges in Lymington town centre put on hold

Hampshire County Council has devised proposals to alter the charging system in Lymington High Street, where parking is currently free for the first hour.

Under the new scheme motorists would have to pay to park if their visit lasted longer than 30 minutes.

The plan has parked fears that shoppers will go elsewhere, potentially leading to the closure of stores which were already struggling before the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Now the county council has agreed to put the scheme on hold until 2021.

Announcing the postponement Lymington and Pennington Town Council said the county council recognised that many areas "will require some time to recover and re-establish themselves".

But the move has failed to impress Lymington Liberal Democrat Jack Davies.

He said: "It’s obvious the parking charges in Lymington High Street have only been delayed until after the local elections," said Cllr Davies.

"Parking charges are unpopular because they will hurt local businesses who are trying to rebuild from Covid-19. I urge the Conservatives to scrap their bonkers plan."

Plans to impose new on-street charges were unveiled earlier this year.

Lymington councillor Michael White warned that the move would effectively turn the high street into a short-stay car park, causing a “disastrous” reduction in visitors.

The influential Lymington Society urged the county council to think again in the wake of the first lockdown and its devastating impact on the retail sector.

The group's deputy chairman, Dr Don Mackenzie, wrote to Cllr Rob Humby, the county council's executive member for economy, transport and environment.

His letter cited the "incredibly difficult" time faced by shops and the wider economy and urges the authority to scrap the proposed charges.

It added: "Even in the previously weakening climate for retail before the virus, the imposition of charges was very likely to cause significant harm to the shops in the town.

"Now however, the imposition of charges could have a magnified negative effect in this really precarious time for retail confidence.

"As you know, the Chamber of Commerce and the town council are vehemently opposed to this proposal and have urged you to reconsider."

Referring to the impact of coronavirus Dr Mackenzie told the Daily Echo: "The county council has a very difficult situation to deal with in managing the impact on its services and finances.

"But the Society feels these new charges could be the last straw for shops in the town."

Cllr Rob Humby, the county council's executive member for economy, transport, said today:  "We recognise that town centres across Hampshire have been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and we know it will take time for businesses and areas to recover and re-establish themselves.

"We acknowledge that changes to things like parking, even if they are going to be beneficial once they are established and people are used to them, can be an extra complication in the short term.

"That is why the County Council has agreed to put the proposed changes to on-street parking arrangements in towns and larger villages, including the introduction of new pay and display parking areas in Lymington and Fareham on hold until early Summer 2021.

"That decision is only reinforced by the new national Covid-19 restrictions being introduced by the Government across England from today.”