One-hour parking limit sparks shopping fears

A haircut, a coffee, a chat with friends, a visit to the butcher and a quick grocery shop.

For many people, that is what a trip to a local shopping precinct looks like.

But at Weeping Cross, on the outskirts of Stafford, traders and shoppers fear a new 60-minute parking limit could change those routines.

The restriction is being introduced at a car park owned by the Central Co-op, which says spaces have too often been occupied by people who are not using its store.

The new limit has prompted concerns from business owners, customers and residents who say the precinct is more than a place for a quick shop.

Shoppers often combine visits to several businesses in a single trip, stopping for coffee, collecting groceries or calling at independent traders nearby.

Resident Esmerelda Vaughn said people in the area would be "absolutely fizzing" about the changes.

She said there was already limited parking nearby and feared visitors would end up leaving their cars on surrounding residential streets.

Pat and Steve Bird, who regularly visit Bod cafe, said an hour was not always long enough for people spending time in the precinct.

Pat Bird said they sometimes relied on the car park when nearby disabled bays were occupied because it remained within walking distance for her husband, who uses a walking stick.

"If you go in there for something to eat it's more than an hour," she said.

Traders have also questioned whether the new limit reflects the way many people use the precinct.

Becky Whitehouse, owner of Francesco Group hairdressers, said some appointments lasted well beyond 60 minutes.

"It's gone from all-day parking to an hour, it's quite dramatic really," she said.

But butcher Martin Mottershead believes the changes could have a wider impact than on individual businesses alone.

He said many customers combined several errands into a single visit, helping support a range of traders.

"If they're not coming to have their hair done or going into the café for a couple of hours and then saying, 'oh I'll nip to the butchers while I'm here', then I'm losing footfall," he said.

In response, the Central Co-op said it owned the car park and had seen vehicles regularly left there by people who were not using the store, making spaces unavailable for customers.

The 60-minute limit was intended to ensure spaces remained available throughout the day while still giving people enough time to shop, a spokesperson said.

The retailer said it did not want to discourage visitors from using other businesses in the precinct and would continue to monitor the new arrangements for any "genuine issues" or "unintended consequences".

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