DESPITE excellent sales over Christmas many traders say they feel the town’s poor car parking facilities prevented even better results.
High costs, an inadequate number of spaces, and too many fines being given out have caused controversy for many years in the town but now businesses say the problems are affecting their trade.
John Harrison, of Acorn Country Store in Horse and Jockey Yard, thought higher sales could have been achieved if the Shaw Croft overspill car park had been open.
“The only thing that was holding back Ashbourne was the overflow car park which should be free throughout December but it was closed.
That did not help us.” The Shaw Croft overflow car park, in Park Road, which has space for around 40 cars, advertised the district council’s offer of free parking after 2pm during December. But the site was closed due its poor condition.
Mr Hulme, of AL Hulme Fishmongers in Church Street, said the lack of car parking spaces is a bone of contention for traders in Ashbourne.
“I think trade is doing well but the car parks are a problem. We could have had a multi-story car park where Sainsbury’s has been built.
“The first thing people look for when they come here is a car park. They don’t want to be queuing to do 10 or 15 minutes shopping so they go somewhere else.
Amy Foulkes, 26, working at Ashbourne Books in Dig Street, said: “The problem is for local people. We all have tickets which give free parking but we couldn’t get anywhere before 2pm.” Residents with a parking permit are able to park for free in Ashbourne before 11am and 4pm.
“It would have been nice of the council to make parking free during December and not restrict it to between 11am and 4pm. Some people did not shop in Ashbourne because of the lack of free parking,” she said.
Lorraine Clarke, landlady of the Coach and Horse in Dig Street, said: “The cost of car parking is the problem. You have got to pay any time between 11am and 4pm.
“I got a ticket on December 21 just outside my premises here on Dig Street. I was just unloading the shopping. We have to pay £70 or £35 if we pay it within 28 days.
“I had my sister’s disabled badge on show as well. We are fighting it all the way.”
