A Worcestershire business property agent has called on the Government to take more positive action to reverse the decline in the High Street.
John Truslove, who has offices in Redditch and Bromsgrove, said: “We constantly read in the national media about the effects of the demise of High Street retail on our economy.
“And although the Government commissioned the much-trumpeted Portas Report on the High Street, not much in a practical way has resulted and I feel the High Street is still being sold short by the powers-that-be, both local and national.”
He pointed out that shopping is one of the most dynamic elements of the economy.
“Although an increasing amount of shopping is now done online, consumers still like to “browse” and an internet shopping presence is still not really the same as “touching and feeling” the goods,” he said.
Businesses like Argos led the way many years ago, with the ability to choose your product, wait and collect, but for those who still like to drive into a local, provincial town and shop John Truslove argues there are still too many obstacles in the way.
“Lack of parking, and the expense of what parking there is, will often deter people from picking a particular town for their shopping expedition – hence the popularity of out-of-town shopping parks where the parking is free and you can drive virtually to the door to load your shopping if necessary.
“Some towns, such as Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford have gone down the Park & Ride route, but my experience is that consumers don’t like Park & Ride. They want to be able to drive to a location near the shops they want to visit, park, and walk around.
“My solution would be take out pedestrianisation schemes, such as seen in Bromsgrove, and make roads through High Street shopping areas one way.
“Making them one way would provide ample room for parking bays either side of the one way road and free parking for, say, two hours, would enable shoppers to park near the shops of their choice, get what they want and put it in the car – without a long trek to a remote car park, or a Park & Ride trip to an out-of-town site that may not even be on the side of the town closest to their own home,” he said
He maintained that the essential element required to revitalise the High Street is that it needs to be quick and easy to park.
“A lot of national stores offer “Click & Collect” now, where you may have seen and ordered an item online, but you have the facility to collect it from your nearest store.
“This saves time on parcels being not delivered at your home while you are at work, and the hassle of going to the post office or a parcel depot to collect at another time, which may not be convenient.
“And if you do go into a local High Street store to collect or return something you have ordered online, how many of us would succumb to a further impulse buy?
“The hat and gloves that go with the coat you ordered. Some cutlery to go with the new dinner service. A football to go with your new boots. You get the idea,” he said.
He argued that it should be easier to use our High Streets.
“Parking is always the big issue, so let’s address it.
“Pedestrianisation doesn’t work. It leads to a major decline in footfall for those stores furthest from the available parking.
“A one way system, with a maximum 20mph speed limit, and two hours of free parking provides the best of both worlds.Let’s try it and see the difference it makes,” he said.