Out-of-town shoppers may lose luxury of free parking
Evening Times Online
By Wendy Miller
MAKING drivers pay congestion charges at out-of-town shopping centres would help revitalise city centres, it was claimed today.
A Government commission is calling for consumers who shun struggling towns like Paisley or city shopping centres like Glasgow in favour of Braehead or the Fort to face parking or congestion fees. The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) claims there should be a "levelling of the playing field" between town centres - where people have to pay to park - and out-of-town retail parks where parking is usually free.
The report comes after the Evening Times revealed last month how shops in Glasgow city centre are to open late five nights a week in their bid to win back shoppers.
Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre bosses want traders to back a scheme that would see dozens of stores open until 9pm on week days.
Paisley is one of the biggest casualties of the current shopping trend, with consumers deserting the town in favour of Braehead.
Today's CfIT report looked at how congestion and accessibility affects shopping behaviour at retail and leisure sites.
It found bus users, cyclists and walkers tend to support town centres far more than car users.
The report also said improved public transport and facilities could help attract shoppers back to the high street.
Helen Holland, of the CFIT, said: "Our study shows 85% of shoppers going to out-of-town retail parks arrive in their cars.
"For some shopping trips, such as the weekly grocery shop, the car is the most convenient option, but this level of car use is simply not sustainable in the long term.
"We want to see local authorities, retailers and transport operators taking the right decisions to support the high street."
Glasgow city centre will face even tougher competition next year when the new Silverburn centre in Pollok opens.
Publication date 20/07/06
By Wendy Miller
MAKING drivers pay congestion charges at out-of-town shopping centres would help revitalise city centres, it was claimed today.
A Government commission is calling for consumers who shun struggling towns like Paisley or city shopping centres like Glasgow in favour of Braehead or the Fort to face parking or congestion fees. The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) claims there should be a "levelling of the playing field" between town centres - where people have to pay to park - and out-of-town retail parks where parking is usually free.
The report comes after the Evening Times revealed last month how shops in Glasgow city centre are to open late five nights a week in their bid to win back shoppers.
Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre bosses want traders to back a scheme that would see dozens of stores open until 9pm on week days.
Paisley is one of the biggest casualties of the current shopping trend, with consumers deserting the town in favour of Braehead.
Today's CfIT report looked at how congestion and accessibility affects shopping behaviour at retail and leisure sites.
It found bus users, cyclists and walkers tend to support town centres far more than car users.
The report also said improved public transport and facilities could help attract shoppers back to the high street.
Helen Holland, of the CFIT, said: "Our study shows 85% of shoppers going to out-of-town retail parks arrive in their cars.
"For some shopping trips, such as the weekly grocery shop, the car is the most convenient option, but this level of car use is simply not sustainable in the long term.
"We want to see local authorities, retailers and transport operators taking the right decisions to support the high street."
Glasgow city centre will face even tougher competition next year when the new Silverburn centre in Pollok opens.
Publication date 20/07/06
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