Helston shops offer to pay customers' parking (From This is The West Country)

Helston shops offer to pay customers' parking

9:34am Thursday 7th April 2011 in Cornwall By Emma Goodfellow - Helston Packet

Two Helston shops are offering to pay for car parking costs in a bid to attract more customers.

The Natural Store in The Parade will deduct the cost of an hour's parking fee from a customer's bill if they present their parking ticket counterfoil at the till when paying.

It is hoped that this will entice shoppers to the town and also help them cope with the rising car parking fees.

Shop owner Paul Johnson said: “We want to encourage as many visitors into the town as possible - Helston has so much to offer. It serves people from a very wide area, who need to use a car. Also this is a way of saying 'thank you' to our own loyal customers.”

He urged other businesses to follow suit.

One that has already announced its own, similar scheme is ETS in Market Place.

Manager Ian Jones has set up a system where the shop will pay up to two hours' parking for customers who spend £100 or more.

Nigel Heatley, from the store, said: “Parking is always a problem in Helston. It was just something to try and get people back shopping in Helston.”