Detrimental

It is my understanding that the original changes to the parking arrangements were made to encourage tourism and additional retail trade into the town centre.

In my opinion a successful town centre requires a healthy mix of retail, tourism and commerce. Unfortunately the previous changes have been to the significant detriment of our local commercial businesses.

I have made independent enquiries with the retail sector in Hexham and I am advised that they noticed a significant downturn to their trade following the demise of Tynedale District Council and the transfer of office jobs to Morpeth.

This would suggest that there is a correlation between the success of retail shops and the support from commercial businesses which operate in the town centre throughout the year and especially during the winter months when there is no tourism.

Should commercial businesses decide to leave Hexham as a consequence of the current parking regime then this situation will result in the loss of further retail businesses and the appearance of more empty shops in the town centre.

The attractiveness of Hexham as a tourist destination will also diminish which would therefore call into question the original decision to change the parking.

I have always been in favour of permit parking for those who require an all day parking facility within Wentworth and I urge the powers that be to reinstate this option. The four hours free parking could then remain which will hopefully encourage shoppers and tourists.

I have attempted to express these views to our elected councillors on several occasions, but my thoughts continue to be ignored. I encourage our elected representatives to canvas the opinions of the commercial world and listen to our requirements in a similar manner to how we listen to their views when they expect our support during election periods.

IAN CRAWFORD

Hexham