A business lobby group has launched the first in a series of mini manifestos to urge the government to do more to help small shops stay afloat.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) told the Liberal Democrat party conference that local authorities must reconsider their parking policies if they want to preserve their high streets.
The manifesto, launched on Monday, calls for local authorities to view parking as an essential service, rather than a short term revenue grab, parking policy to be seen as an integral part of transport strategy, and alternative parking strategies to be introduced.
FSB national chairman John Wright said high streets are the ‘engines of local economies’ and must be preserved.
“They depend on sensible parking provision for successful businesses,” he said.
“Yet this dependence is being undermined by local authorities who treat parking as a quick revenue grab rather than an essential service that benefits local communities and economies.
“Only when parking policies are seen as a service that is bespoke, smart and a fundamental part of an area's transport strategy will independent retailers survive on our high streets and in our town centres,” he said.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008