1,400 sign car park petition (From Malvern Gazette)

How to kill the trade of a town, charge for parking so that folk are more likely to go to out of town retail parks where parking is free and unlimited, Malvern Town also needs to take note.

We are only periodic visitors to Upton – on – Seven and find that the situation of the free car park is ideal for both visitors and no doubt residents of the area.
Upton shops are the reason we actually park on this car park. Parking here allows us to walk down Old Street on the left side selecting our wares. Returning on the left side doing the same.
One shop that we always visit is the tool shop “Hayward’s” I find it to be an Aladdin’s cave of tools.
Our purchases usually consist of something from “Cook Bakery” we always spend a few pounds at the Old Toffee Shop They introduced us to a Belgian Zouts slightly salt liquorice sweets.
Depending on the time we arrive, we will dine at the Bell House Restaurant (New Street) after a long walk round and before returning to the Free Car Park. We finish our four to five hour visit having an afternoon cup of tea or coffee at the Courtyard tea Rooms. We always enjoy our visit occasionally we will have friends with us who also purchase items for their grandchildren.
We really enjoy our visit not having to worry about our parking ticket running out. Please those who will be making the final decision. Remember, your Free Car Park is situated in the ideal place for visitors to leave their vehicle, walk into Upton passing all the shops. Without being disrespectful to my wife and practically all women. Shops are a magnet and knowing they do not have to rush will never walk by a shop that is open without wanting something. When I ask my wife to hurry, her most famous retort is why “Parking is free why be rushed”. By the time, we get down to the river or the Courtyard café. We will have spent £10/15 in the shops that if parking charges were introduced then I doubt if we would spend the same amount of time shopping. We are backing the shopkeeper and those who reside within Upton… I f car parking charges are ever introduced we would still visit but would not remain in Upton longer than two to three hours.

A superb example of what happens when charges are applied at previously free carparks can be seen at Malvern Link Station.

Weekdays, there are usually one or two cars in a carpark which could probably take 50+ cars, yet Somers rd is packed, leaving no space for residents, Worcester rd is solid along the side of the road by the fire station, surely creating a hazard for said fire station and people pulling out of the new hospital, Howsell rd and Osborne rd.

The owners of the carpark make no money, and a nuisance is created by people parking in unsuitable places.

In Upton, the council won't make anything as I'm sure maintenance will cost as much as any charges they take during the Upton festivals. Locals will park elsewhere, clogging up the already narrow streets, and traders will lose out.

In short, Malvern Hills District Council, don't be so thick - NOBODY WINS!

Andy-Apache,
I appreciate your comments at charging for car parking you are quite correct some Council bring in Pay & Display or some alternative method with only one thing on their minds Profit. Councillors or should I say Elected Members seem to take what officers (Who are on salaries £40/50k per annum) have no idea what ordinary working people can afford. They base everything on everyone being in a similar position as themselves. Most Councils grant senior and middle tier Officer a parking permit, which is either issued free, or the employee has to purchase this parking pass once per annum.
I stand to be corrected; however, I think the going rate for these parking permits is around £45.00,
This calculates £1.00 per week for 7 hours per day assuming with holiday they only work 45 weeks each year. Yet when the public are confronted with parking charges calculations appear to become extortionate. Using a minimum charge of say £0.70 p for 2 hours actually calculates to £5.60 for 8 hours. The Council that I reside under as a fantastic charging policy. This applies to locals and visitors. (0700hrs to 1500hrs parking charges apply. 1500hrs to 0700hrs parking is free. With free parking all day Saturday & Sundays. This was introduced to aid our shopping area and its businesses. However, when the economy improves the Council may revise it policy.

Councillor Andrea Morgan has an email address, which is andrea.morgan1@homec
all.co.uk however,
If anyone uses her email, it will be returned because this address is disfuctional.

I would be ware of Elected Members many speak with forked tongue.