Strong concerns have been raised by businesses in the centre of Folkestone about declining sales in the two months since the new parking restrictions came into place. I share these concerns and any reports that suggest local businesses are struggling have to be treated as very serious. Some businesses in the Bouverie Place shopping centre have done better but that is probably not surprising as it is already served by its own multi-story car park. These are issues that I have discussed in detail with the businesses themselves as well as members of the council.
We all have an interest in seeing our town centres thrive as places where people live, work and shop. That's why I have been working with the Town Centre manager John Barber to set up the new Town Team to co-ordinate efforts and ideas to encourage people to come in and shop. For me the purpose of the parking arrangements in the centre of Folkestone, or any town is make it easier for people to go about their business, and encourage them to spend time there. That of course means having spaces available and a turn over of cars parked during the day.
Following the concerns raised by local businesses Shepway Council has announced this week that they will be making parking in their car parks free for all of the weekends in the run up to Christmas to encourage more people into the town. This is certainly a step in the right direction. However I believe that we have to look closely to see if this makes a positive difference. If it does, then there should be a debate about whether more time limited free parking should be available. If it does not make a difference, then other options will need to be quickly considered.
Shepway Council is also going to fund a promotional campaign to encourage shoppers into the town and provide information about the parking facilities available. Folkestone still has 300 free on street parking places, something that we fought to protect during the consultation on the parking strategy. More needs to be done to encourage people to use the off street car parks. Shepway Council has reduced the cost of parking in them, but there are still far too many empty spaces. There are also good residents permit schemes that allow people to park for up to three hours every day of the year in the council's long stay car parks for just £1 per week. Very few people have however taken up these permits and more needs to be done to promote them.
Last Sunday I joined the Mayor of Lydd, as well as members of the Town Council and the three District Councillors, for the Remembrance Day service. It was good to see so many people out to mark the sacrifices made by our armed services in the two world wars and the many conflicts since. This year we were particularly reminded of the ongoing sacrifices of those currently serving in Afghanistan, with the tragic recent deaths of two members of the 1st battalion of the Royal Gurkha rifles in Helmand; Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter and Lance Corporal Siddhanta Kunwar