| Topic: | Sunday parking | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 03/06/25 09:58:00 |
| It is hard to see how displacement of parking and traffic from the Mid Chiswick CPZ won't lead to demands for Sunday parking restrictions in adjacent areas and the eventual introduction of universal restrictions across the centre of town. Sainsbury's will be the exception but how long that car park will be with us is hard to tell. The fears that this would lead to the end of the markets seems to be misplaced as the council has set the precedent for their car parks remaining free on Sundays even if the surrounding CPZ has restrictions. This removes the risk of a financial opportunity cost of allowing events to take over car parks making it less likely they will get licences. They will probably see footfall dip a bit particularly the flower and antiques market where people who buy more require a car to take it home. Local churches are not going to be happy about it and businesses to will be up in arms. It is probably best to ignore people who have never ran a shop in their life telling you that it doesn't hurt a business if it is more difficult for people to park. Chiswick shops have high fixed costs and generally low margins so small changes in turnover can have dramatic effects on profitability. It will be particularly challenging because many nearby equivalent town centres have free Sunday parking including Ealing and everywhere in Kensington and Chelsea. Traders selling things will find it more difficult but there has been a long term trend of them disappearing from the High Road. Top end restaurants will suffer a bit because nobody wants to cram Sunday lunch into an hour and a half due to parking ticket expiry. However, other businesses less dependent on customers arriving by car will probably take the place of those forced to close. |