COSTLY parking charges are putting off visitors from visiting city centre businesses, a restaurant owner has warned.
Fred Perry, co-founder of Wing It in West Street, said the cost of parking has become a significant barrier for families and workers, with costs quickly mounting for those choosing to spend time in the city centre.
Mr Perry said: "As a city business, we have seen first-hand how challenging trading conditions have become.
"People still want to visit Hereford, eat out and support independent businesses, but the cost and inconvenience of parking can make that decision considerably harder.
"For example, two hours parking at West Street car park now costs more than £4.
"That is more than half the price of a child’s meal in one of our restaurants before a family has even entered a shop, café or restaurant."
He said that for many families, parking costs quickly add up and become a deterrent to visiting the city centre.
Mr Perry also said that while independent restaurants regularly run special offers to attract customers, these schemes are entirely self-funded and not supported by the Government.
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He added: "While we are pleased to do what we can, independent businesses cannot be expected to carry the responsibility for maintaining city centre footfall alone."
The rising cost and hassle of parking are pushing some customers to stay at home and order food for delivery instead, he said.
He added that affordable parking and better-publicised free parking periods could encourage more people to visit Hereford and support city centre businesses.
He suggested measures such as free parking after 5pm, lower evening rates and improved short-stay options, as well as a parking validation scheme offering free or discounted parking to customers who spend with participating businesses.
Mr Perry said parking costs were also placing a burden on workers, with some staff paying £17.35 for a 12-hour shift, or £86.75 across a working week.
He warned that such costs can make recruitment and retention more challenging for employers. While remaining positive about Hereford's future, he said a thriving city centre depends on making it as affordable, accessible and welcoming as possible for both visitors and workers.
Mr Perry's comments come after chief executive officer of the Hereford Business Improvement District (BID) warned that the city centre has seen a 20 per cent decline in footfall since this time last year, and believes it is part of a longer-term trend and reflects changing consumer habits, with more people choosing to shop online and use delivery services such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats, instead of forking out on city centre parking.
He explained that the current parking model "no longer delivers the footfall our businesses need, and the evidence is clear", adding: "If we want a thriving city centre, parking must become part of the solution."
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