Sirs,
I have never written to a newspaper before, so this is a first. I was alerted last night to a post on social media stating that Marlborough Town Council has voted to remove all the 30 minute free parking on the High Street.
Apparently this all happened in a Zoom meeting without any members of the public in attendance. It seems that a couple of the eating establishments that are actually going to reopen had decided that they would like to serve food and drink on areas of the pavement that they don’t already use. Now, we have all been to Continental towns and seen the proliferation of tables and chairs in town squares that are such a part of life in a more temperate climate. However, I don’t imagine that a load of Brits drinking beer a few feet from lorries driving at 30mph is going to offer the same ambience. I have spent most of my life in the Restaurant, Hotel and Pub business and can assure you that alcohol and fast moving traffic is a combination to be avoided wherever possible.
I have lived in Marlborough for over 10 years and use our wonderful High Street every day. Never have I found it so crowded that I am unable to make my way down it. Usually I walk down but then often I have been out to Savernake, West Woods or Manton with the dog and stop on the High Street in my car to grab a bite at Movida, a coffee at Costa, a quick visit to Waitrose or a charity shop. Sometimes just to post a letter or pick up something from Boots.
At these times I always use the 30 minute parking zones. They turn over regularly and there is usually a space. If I have to find a space in a parking lot, have the right change and get back before the ticket expires, I am unlikely to do this. It also adds up over a period of weeks or months. The idea that the loss of these spaces will somehow be made up for by free parking on a Thursday in October or some such scheme is laughable. Ditto the faffing around paying for a ticket and somehow getting some of it back from a retailer.
In addition to my Hospitality industry experience, I have also worked in retail. Both here in Marlborough and other places. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if cheap or free parking is not easily available in the immediate vicinity, then people will shop elsewhere or online.
I’m sure the Council means well, but in this instance is totally misguided. Our High Street is already going to suffer a tremendous contraction as a result of the past three months. It would be nice if the Town Council tried to do what it can not to make things worse.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Bell
Marlborough
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