The Ladywell Society has added its objections to the proposes changes to loading bays along Ladywell Road. Lewisham wants to convert the free limited waiting time bays to paid for on street parking spaces.
In a letter to local councillors, the society says it is “deeply concerned that the plan to convert the bays will have a “negative impact on Ladywell by reducing sales to local businesses and the vitality of our high street which has grown positively in recent years to full occupancy for the first time in many years.”
The free loading bays provide a” “crucial opportunity for customers to quickly stop and shop at
independent businesses including coffee shops, food shops, hairdressers, DIY shop and dry cleaners.
“By introducing charges, the council risks discouraging the very local shopping habits that benefit our Ladywell
economy.
“Local shopping habits also enable people to meet, and by extension of this, they create a community
which is important to Ladywell,” it adds.
The entire streetscape works on Ladywell Road which led to the creation of the parking bays “was undertaken
with a view to helping local businesses. So the decision to now start charging for these seems to be at odds
with this agenda.”
The society urges the council “to reconsider this proposal and maintain the 40-minute free provision, which strikes a fair
balance between accessibility for shoppers and turnover of space.”
Local businesses criticise planned parking changes
Ladywell’s local businesses have criticised a council proposal to change the parking regulations on the High Street, insisting the changes will discourage some people from using their local shops and cafes.
Lewisham is aiming to convert the free limited waiting time bays along Ladywell Road to paid-for on-street parking spaces.
In a letter to councillors, local traders say the plan to convert “a 40-minute free space into a paid parking bay will have a deeply negative impact on local businesses and the vitality of our high street”.
They say the 40 minutes of free parking “provides a crucial opportunity for customers to quickly stop and shop at independent businesses like our coffee shops, food shops, hairdressers and dry cleaners.
“By introducing charges, the council risks discouraging the very local shopping habits we all want to encourage.”
The council seems to be doing this with minimum consultation, says one trader. “It just makes life harder. It means people will think twice before stopping in Ladywell and parking to buy a coffee or a loaf of bread.
In their letter to councillors local traders say that “instead of popping down to the high street for a coffee, a loaf of bread, or a haircut, customers will opt for the free parking available at large supermarkets, drawing trade away from small independent businesses that contribute so much to the character and economy of Ladywell.”
They also point out that the change “will make it harder for suppliers and delivery drivers to unload goods efficiently, adding unnecessary costs and logistical challenges to businesses already facing a tough trading environment”.
Local businesse are urging the council to reconsider the parking change and “to maintain the 40-minute free provision, which strikes a fair balance between accessibility for shoppers and turnover of space.
“If the goal is to manage parking availability more effectively, we would welcome an open discussion to explore alternative solutions that do not penalise local businesses and residents.
The council change to parking, via an amendment to Traffic Regulation Orders, will affect parking bays throughout the borough.
The Ladywell traders urge the council “to engage in constructive dialogue to find a solution that supports the success of Ladywell’s independent businesses”.