Myopic West Suffolk Council expects £948,000 loss from Car Parks!
£948,000 Revenue shortfall
I read today about how the West Suffolk Council are expecting a lose of £948,000 shortfall in their revenue due to the reduced use of their car parks.
This is indeed quite unfortunate for them. The Audit Scrutiny Committee are saying that this is due to
- Reduced numbers in their car park
- Slow recovery from the lockdown restrictions
- The cost of fuel and less disposable income
- The war in Ukraine
Councillor Sarah Broughton (tory) and cabinet member for resources and property claimed that “Issues such as people’s habits following and during the continued pandemic as well as the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine, which is having an impact on people’s and public service’s budgets and spending patterns” She also claimed that there had been a rise in the use of the car parks, despite the Audit Scrutiny Committee, having said they were seeing reduced numbers in the car parks!
West Suffolk Council Car Park
The Bury St Edmunds Cash Cow
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Are they completly and forgetting that they raised the cost of parking only last year. 2 hours in the “cattle market” car park is now £3. We have seen many people in the We Love Bury St Edmunds! Facebook Group, say time and time again, they would rather shop elsewhere than have to pay to park in Bury St Edmunds.
The West Suffolk Council, and their myopic councillors have been milking the Bury St Edmunds cash cow for too long, and now they are seeing the results of their greed.
Shops have suffered loss of trade with people not being able to spend as much time browsing as they wish, having to rush around to do what they need to do, and keeping their eyes on the clock.
Did any of these “councillors” who imposed the increased charges ever go to school, study basic economics, and learn about Supply and Demand?
Oh how very grateful we are to the council for giving is Free From 3 on a Tuesday. This just does cut the mustard with many, as its usually when parents are collecting children from school, and shopping is the last thing on their minds.
Cllr Broughton also said
Cllr Broughton also said “We have plans in place to address some of the issues but the majority of this is out of the control of the council and affected by national behaviours by the public as well as the international situation.”
Seriously? For once, listen to the residents!!!
2 Comments
Hear hear! I avoid shopping in Bury except when I simply have to as I resent such high parking charges. I pity the shopkeepers the market stall holders and anyone who depends upon passing trade. Contrary though it may be I would rather spend money on fuel to go elsewhere where parking is FREE or is much cheaper so that I’m not click watching. Anyone with basic knowledge of economics would know that the way to go is to drastically reduce the. Charges and make it free off peak. Unfortunately Councillors become Councillors for reasons other than working fir the community.
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So absolutely true. Good article. Councillors ought to need qualifications including a business one to be eligible for election. Maybe we’d get some sensible decision making then