Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Andrew RT Davies has emphasised the importance of free parking in helping local high streets thrive.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies warned a lack of joined up thinking from ministers had led to high streets declining over the past two decades.
He said good transport options are crucial in attracting visitors to high streets, pointing to parking charges as one of the key factors dissuading people from doing so.
Mr Davies also warned business rates are another factor had put shops and restaurants under pressure.
He called on ministers to “break down the silos” and get different departments and authorities working together.
He said this was essential to deliver a “rejuvenated high street that is the centre of civic pride”.
Mr Davies said:
“Thriving high streets are so important for our communities, but Senedd ministers have failed to use the levers at their disposal to help them succeed.
“Parking charges deter visitors, while exorbitant rates put businesses under huge pressure.
“Senedd ministers must break down the silos and get different departments working together to deliver a rejuvenated high street that is the centre of civic pride.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Tuesday 23rd June
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/16076#C764428
Andrew R.T. Davies
14:18:23
First Minister, I’ve been here now for nearly 20 years, and I’ve never heard a Member put down their local high street, for obvious reasons. It’s electoral suicide. But what we’ve seen over that 20 years, regrettably, is a decline in every high street across Wales, and that’s because there hasn’t been a joined-up approach from Government here. There is a recipe that can be endorsed by Government: reforming the planning system so there’s a more 24-hour look at the high street to introduce residential, shopping and amenity space within that high street; get the transport options right, and in particular free car parking; work with local authorities to reduce business rates; and make sure that town centre managers are put in place to coordinate that redevelopment opportunity across the whole of the high street complexes in local authority areas. Regrettably, that coordination hasn’t come from Government here. You’re a new Government—will you commit to breaking down the silos that sit within the portfolio areas, to use the planning system, use the finance department to drive down business rates, and make sure that local authorities buy into the desire, that is expressed within this Chamber, of a rejuvenated high street that is the centre of civic pride?
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