Bristol businesses would benefit if more parking was created close to shops and workplaces, according to a national lobbying group that is putting up a £1,000 prize for an innovative solution to the city’s parking problems.
Bristol branch of the Federation of Small Businesses has launched the “Are You The New Brunel?” competition looking for innovative solutions to the city’s transport difficulties. A prize of £5,000 will be presented to the best idea chosen by a panel of judges.
National organisation – the Association of British Drivers is backing the competition with a further £1,000 prize for the best idea to improve parking facilities.
Brian MacDowall of The Association of British Drivers said: “Businesses need customers to be able to park as close as possible and we need the public and local authorities working together to find innovative ways of doing this.
“Bristol has some wonderful shops on roads into the city but it has been made very difficult for people to stop their cars and use them. Maybe parking could be created behind shops, yellow lines could be reviewed or underground parking created.
“We hope that this competition will come forward with some practical solutions as well as getting people thinking about the problem and how it can be solved.”
To enter the competition participants have to go to www.newbrunel.org.uk where there is an online entry form.
Business leaders judging the competition are Peter Hargreaves of Hargreaves Lansdown, Guy Kingston of Kingston Rhodes, formerly chairman of the Bristol Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses and Stephen Clarke, partner at Clarke Willmott solicitors.
Ideas will be passed to the new Mayor of Bristol and to the city council.
