NEWPORT PARKING: Councillor backs alternative plan

10:40am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Gwent news Photograph of the Author By Will Bain

SENSIBLE PROPOSAL: Cllr David Fouweather is backing a parking voucher scheme proposed by Argus editor Kevin Ward SENSIBLE PROPOSAL: Cllr David Fouweather is backing a parking voucher scheme proposed by Argus editor Kevin Ward

AN ALTERNATIVE parking scheme in Newport is gathering cross-party support after the former cabinet member in charge of parking gave it his backing.

David Fouweather, Conservative councillor for Allt-yr-yn, said the parking voucher scheme seemed sensible.

Under the proposed scheme, pitched by Argus editor Kevin Ward, people would be rewarded for shopping in the city centre by having their £1 parking charge refunded.

Shoppers would get a token for spending over a certain amount in local stores, with traders setting the amount that would need to be spent for car parking to be refunded.

It comes as the council is set to axe the two-year-old scheme which allows shoppers to park free of charge in council-run city centre car parks for the first two hours of their stay.

The decision sparked our campaign to Keep City Parking Free, with more than 4,000 people signing petitions so far, urging the council to reverse its decision.

Cllr Fouweather said: “I think it is a sensible solution to the budget issues.

“Anything that gets people into the city centre and helps traders is great.

“If shoppers spend enough then their parking is free, and that would be good for traders too, so hopefully everybody wins.

“It’s a solution which would help traders and also get this Labour administration out of a hole.”

Cllr Fouweather did say his preference would still be to keep the free parking scheme, but accepted the voucher scheme could work as a compromise.

“I still think they should have left it alone until the newdevelopment is in place.

“Now they’ve closed the Cambrian car park they should be looking for a parking solution for that end of town now too,” he said.

Comments(10)

Woodgnome says...
12:27pm Thu 3 Jan 13

As long as it's not labelled a "compromise" as the Council has not compromised at all. The traders have proposed a solution to try and counteract a minded Labour administration. The centre will shortly be an advert for how not to run a city..

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areyour4real says...
2:37pm Thu 3 Jan 13

Cllr Fouweather is a grade A idiot.

As for "Under the proposed scheme, pitched by Argus editor Kevin Ward" I was led to believe by the SWA that this was Cllr Chris Evans idea.

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D Taylor says...
2:59pm Thu 3 Jan 13

I'm not clear about who refunds the £. Is it the traders or the council?

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Kevin Ward - Editor says...
5:07pm Thu 3 Jan 13

I suggested the idea to a number of people and organisations, including Cllr Evans, a few weeks ago.
Cllr Evans then raised the matter at full council and there are a number of other discussions taking place as a result.
The idea is very simple and happens in a number of other towns and cities around the UK.
Parking charges - in this case the £1 for three hours the council wants to introduce - are refunded to shoppers by retailers in return for a certain minimum spend (decided by the traders) in their shops.
In my view, this is a 'win-win' proposal.
The council gets to make its saving, shoppers still get free parking, and local businesses provide an incentive for people to use their services.
All that is needed for this to succeed is goodwill and determination by all concerned.

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pinpong says...
5:54pm Thu 3 Jan 13

areyour4real wrote:
Cllr Fouweather is a grade A idiot. As for "Under the proposed scheme, pitched by Argus editor Kevin Ward" I was led to believe by the SWA that this was Cllr Chris Evans idea.
Oh dear are you for real is upset. What a bitter little socialist he is. Labour caught out and not as popular as they thought they were.

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Mike0408 says...
6:51pm Thu 3 Jan 13

The retailers have to give people the £1 back?? how will that work and why should they??. so if i go shopping in ever store and spend the minimum amount in each shop would i get £1 back from each shop??. how about if i am in a pub meeting friends/family?? would they give me £1 back as well??.
WHAT ABOUT the people that are working in these places?? do they still have to pay for parking??.

also the retailers already have their prices set to make the profit they need to live off, why should they have to loose £1 of their profits per customer just to make the council happy?? if retailers put their prices up to compensate the £1 per customer then i am sure that they will loose a few customers.

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Woodgnome says...
8:10pm Thu 3 Jan 13

Quite right Mike 0408 - it is the Councils duty to promote economic development - the poor traders should not have to rescue a disaster. This time Councillor Fouweather and the SWA are misguided - sometimes the "alternative" is just not acceptable and lets a mickey mouse administration like the present Labour NCC off the hook

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areyour4real says...
9:18am Fri 4 Jan 13

pinpong wrote:
areyour4real wrote:
Cllr Fouweather is a grade A idiot. As for "Under the proposed scheme, pitched by Argus editor Kevin Ward" I was led to believe by the SWA that this was Cllr Chris Evans idea.
Oh dear are you for real is upset. What a bitter little socialist he is. Labour caught out and not as popular as they thought they were.
It's true!

Labour have made themselves look a bit silly over this.

Still doesn't change the fact, Cllr Fouweather is a fools fool.

Thanks Pingpong, keep believing!

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pinpong says...
10:40am Fri 4 Jan 13

Yep your probably right. Although i do think that this councillor does have a go on our behalf. he cant always be right but hes not always wrong. So i will keep believing.

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catlady wales says...
6:16am Fri 11 Jan 13

I don't mind a pound, BUT if I only want to pop into the bank for 15 minutes then I do mind. The first half hour should be free for others who are not shopping, but visiting.

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