A DISCOUNT parking scheme could be what is needed to save Chard’s dwindling high street.

That is the view of South Somerset MP Marcus Fysh and local leaders, who believe cut-price parking and free spaces for shoppers would help boost trade for small businesses in the town.

Les Gilbert, owner of Chard Newsagents and Chard BookShop, has called on South Somerset District Council to take action to revive the high street after a number of high-profile shop closures in recent weeks.

He said car parking should not be seen as a cash cow by the council, but instead a way of enticing residents and visitors to the town.

Mr Gilbert said the issue had been rumbling on for too long, with South Somerset District Council saying it would review parking in the area in March last year, and called for immediate action.

He said: “The minutes of the town council meeting in October 2015, show councillors resolved to wholeheartedly support the public-led campaign to introduce a period of two hours free car parking per day in Chard.

“In the considerable time that has elapsed, the retail environment for Chard has worsened with the closure of the Co-Op and the presumed abandonment of yet another supermarket for the Boden Mill leaving the Chard Regeneration project largely in tatters without much to replace it.

“SSDC has always taken the position that without revenues from car parks, council taxes would need to rise or other services be cut. We rather take a different view.

“Car parks cannot be a simple revenue source for local authorities.

“The effect of car park charges needs to be balanced against the viability of Chard town centre and the knock on effect this viability might have on the resources available to the council’s responsible for its management.”

The renewed calls for cut-price car parking follow a successful trial rolled out by East Devon District Council, which said an extra 17,000 people used the car parks after the introduction of a £2 all day charge.

Marcus Fysh, who is also a county councillor and MP for South Somerset, said: “Free parking periods have shown in other places to reinvigorate the high streets which is something we all want to see.

“This helps grow businesses leading to more revenue for the council, so charging a lot for parking is a false economy.

“Our high streets are important centres for the community and we must find more ways to support them particularly from competition from the internet.”

Cllr Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “The offer of £2 after 10am to park for the rest of the day has encouraged visitors to use East Devon car parks and enables them to visit our towns without worrying about overstaying their time at the parking meter.

“Comparing November and December 2016 and 2015, we have already seen an extra 17,000 customers buying £2 tickets and our total revenue is higher by a little over £3,000 so far this winter.”

The parking proposals went before SSDC area west committee on March 16 last year.

Cllr Dave Bulmer, mayor of Chard and district councillor, said: “It has become clear to me that with any review there needs to be a robust evidence base of information which can take time to collate. The best way to describe this is as a work in progress at this moment in time.”

Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council, said: “There is a fundamental problem with comparing Chard and South Somerset car parks to East Devon; we don’t have any beaches.

“Their offer is for winter only and it is a temporary reduction from £3 to £2 for 2 hours or more.

“Everyone would like to see free car parks, lower Income tax, no road fund licence and no Council Tax, but that is fantasy land if we want the infrastructure and public services that our residents need.

“Nationally there is a lack of robust evidence to support a link between free car parking and town centre footfall.

“Car parks have to pay Business Rates whether parking is free or charged for and it is not unreasonable that the motorist who uses them, pays.

“Instead of targeting car parks we all need to be working together to improve the shopping offer in our towns.

“This will we see our High Streets re-invigorated and that should be the goal for all of us given that the internet is here to stay.

“South Somerset’s current car park charges are some of the lowest in the area and we have not increased them since 2012 despite huge budget pressures.”

Mr Gilbert added: “While not necessarily calling for free parking, we are asking SSDC to complete its promised review of car parking in Chard, and to take account of successful schemes operated by other authorities.”

“Together we need to make Chard an attractive place for shoppers, businesses and visitors and one small part of this is making sure that car parks are better used and capable of raising a little more revenue for a cash strapped council.”