Conservative Group Leader Proposes Free Parking to Boost Southport's Economy

At Thursday’s Sefton Council meeting, Conservative Group Leader, Mike Prendergast, will be asking Sefton Council to bring forward a free parking scheme in Southport to support town centre businesses.

Many businesses in Southport town centre have reported drops in footfall with many struggling to make ends meet. The recent budget has heaped more pressure on small businesses with huge increases in National Insurance on the horizon and warnings from the Bank of England that economic growth will slow down because of Labour’s tax raising budget.

Mike Prendergast said, “Whenever you speak to town centre businesses there are many issues that affect them but one issue that comes up time and time again is parking in the town centre and the negative impact this has on local traders.”

“Southport is not unique in having issues within the town centre, with competition from online and other nearby towns, but there are things we can do to help and I think introducing a free parking scheme would help many local businesses and encourage visitors to our town.”

“We are asking Sefton Council to seriously look at this and have put forward suggestions such as 3 hours free, perhaps in midweek, to increase footfall. Even within Southport there are areas like Ocean Plaza and Central 12 which already offer free parking schemes and this makes it harder for town centre businesses to compete.”

“We need to give people incentives to come into the town centre rather than putting up barriers. If we want Southport to thrive, then we need to do something about it and support local businesses by creating an environment that encourages businesses to set up in our town.”