Calls for cheaper parking while works continue

Becky Dawkins, the owner of Farnham Family Butchers, said parking charge increases had come at the wrong time

Businesses in Farnham are calling for Waverley Borough Council (WBC) to reduce parking fees during the next phase of improvement works in the town.

As part of the changes by Surrey County Council (SCC), which include wider pavements and the introduction of two-way traffic, one of the main roads, Downing Street, is due to close to through traffic and become semi-pedestrianised from 18 August until 1 November.

The Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, Greg Stafford, has also called for support with business rates.

WBC said it recognised the impact the works were having on some businesses and residents.

The improvement works programme in Farnham started in February

Parking charges increased in parts of the borough of Waverley in May.

Becky Dawkins, the owner of Farnham Family Butchers, told BBC Radio Surrey the increases had happened at the "wrong time" and were potentially "another deterrent" to stop people from coming into the town.

She said "an hour of free car parking", or a discount if shoppers stayed a certain amount of time, would help businesses.

Steve Hamilton, owner of Hamilton's Tea House, said all the businesses had been affected by the works

Steve Hamilton, from Hamilton's Tea House, said all the businesses were "feeling the effects" of lower footfall and reduced revenue.

He said it would be "really nice if Waverley could join hands with us" and take a financial hit "rather than it just being the public".

Ginny Young, from Wylde Thyme, said there had been "a lot of disruption" and that it would be good to have "some leeway with parking just to give people confidence" as Farnham had "so much to offer".

New parking charges came in to force on 12 May

Mr Stafford has also urged WBC to "use its powers to give some kind of relief from business rates" to help businesses during the works.

"I don't want to give the impression at all that Farnham isn't thriving," he said. "It absolutely is.

"It's a fantastic place to shop, to live, to work, but businesses are asking just to get a little bit of support during the disruption so that [they] can carry on because…if they were to go under because of this, that would be an absolute disaster."

WBC councillor Tony Fairclough said the council recognised that "business is the lifeblood of Farnham".

"We've been working with the business community in all four major settlements to develop a car park offer that will actually be effective in stimulating business revenue rather than merely bringing short stay traffic into our towns, and I'm delighted to say that they are extremely enthusiastic about the concept," he said.

WBC councillor Liz Townsend added that the council only retained 6% of business rates.

"The rates are set by the Government's Valuation Office Agency, not the council, but we do help local businesses by actively supporting them to apply for available reliefs, including small business rate relief, retail discounts and hardship support," she said.

SCC has been approached for comment about the impact of the works programme.