Romford Councillor urges Havering Council to enter urgent discussions with local businesses in fear of parking charges pushing shoppers elsewhere.

Romford Councillor for St Edwards Ward, David Taylor urges council for vital discussions with local businesses over increase parking prices.

Following budget scrutiny, Councillor David Taylor, Romford, has urged Havering Council to enter urgent discussions with local businesses. Taylor raised concerns that increased parking prices will drive shoppers elsewhere and have a negative impact on Romford’s ability to survive. 

At the Overview and Scrutiny Board, a body of councillors from all political parties, Taylor highlighted that Havering Council has failed to model the impact of increased parking charges. Admitting that the Officers had a difficult job ahead of them, Taylor highlighted that many of the savings proposals were described by Havering Council as having “a lack of reliable data”. 

Proposals put forward by the Labour and Resident’s Association led council include the removal of free-parking on a Sunday, the only day that Romford benefits from it. Pay & Display prices are also due to increase by 40%. 

A number of non-council car parks are contractually obliged to raise and lower their prices in-line with Council prices, with them having to be within a certain range of what the council charge. Council Officers told Councillor Taylor, at the Overview and Scrutiny Board, that they had not yet had conversations with those businesses. 

Councillor Taylor Said; 

Romford’s high-street is already at risk and we’ve just lost one of our largest entertainment venues. If we put up parking prices further, shoppers may as well endure the drive to Lakeside or Westfield. 

I am concerned that the council does not have the data needed to accurately model the impact of these charges to local businesses. I’m encouraging Officers to urgently engage with local business leaders, before these charges are voted on by Councillors in just a few weeks. 

If Councillors approve the charges, it’s too late to start the discussions”. 

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