Businesses say parking fee rise causing trade dip

High Street businesses in a Kent town say they have suffered an immediate decline in trade following increases in parking charges.

Shop owners on Chatham High Street have blamed Medway Council’s tariff hikes — with one-hour parking rising from £2.40 to £2.90 and two-hour stays increasing from £2.90 to £3.50 — for a drop in customers since the new fees were introduced on 1 May. Concerns had been raised before the changes came into effect, despite the council reducing the cost of 30-minute parking to £1, a move it said would benefit shoppers. A council spokesperson said the increases were introduced “in response to well-publicised financial pressures affecting local authorities across the country”. Babs Landa, 51, owner of Instyle, said the impact on businesses had been significant. “Footfall has dropped massively,” she said. “Customers are telling us they no longer want to come into Chatham because of the high parking costs. “They can choose to shop elsewhere, such as Hempstead Valley or Bluewater, where parking is free.” According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, business owners also pointed to rising anti-social behaviour and poor public transport links as additional factors affecting trade. A petition highlighting the challenges faced by local businesses has been signed by 48 traders and submitted to Medway Council. The council said the revised charges were introduced after “careful consideration” and that the reduced 30-minute parking rate was an “innovative step” designed to address concerns from residents and businesses. It added that the impact of the changes is still being assessed and that parking charges will remain under review ahead of the next budget.