Someone has to force the decision makers to look at the Southport town centre as a unique space not comparing it to city centres or other towns.

Relatively soon cars will not be the fume spewing problem they are now and we have to accept the failure of our public transport for towns it works for busy cities but not smaller towns.

Local buses will be rendered redundant by driverless taxis and giving them their own lanes was an extravagance we could ill afford.

Let's prepare ourselves for the future not the past.

Online is not the answer for everything and eventually the penny will drop that Mr Amazon et al driving miles with a toothbrush in a big box is not good for the environment.

The tax system will have to change to remove the advantages the giants abuse the shrinking of the town centres will reduce the business rate take so we will have to raise money elsewhere and these rapacious companies will be on the chancellors radar.

"Someone has to force the decision makers …"
"Let's prepare ourselves for the future not the past."

The economics of town centres is not something "the decision makers" can easily manipulate. Let us not understate 'market forces ' and the complexity of interactions. Comments on this article include many asserting the cost of vehicle parking is the bane of Lord Street and town centre business districts, generally. Treating vehicle parking space as a social 'free good' ignores the reality that that space has real value. Occupying a parking space is cost of vehicle use. No one suggests that vehicle fuel should be 'free ', so why should parking?

Emissions from combustion engines are not the only extraneous cost of motor vehicles. Certainly we should look forward as we seek resolution of assorted economic problems, but for the time being Active Travel is government policy and the Council are attempting to put appropriate measures in place. Our MP, Damien Moore, should be actively lobbying his Ministerial colleagues in Westminster. I have yet to read any comment from Damien Moore about the possible impact of the proposed planning system from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. I trust he is busy studying its implications.

Our Damien

It is not just the cost it is the onerous system attached to parking, something that should be eased to facilitate much needed customers visits.

Attributing a value and consequent charge to providing the space is petty and irritating when the town is struggling.

Imagine a struggling shop charging entry.

If the town was booming then it would have a place we aren't.

When Tesco who could make all the same arguments start charging I might think I have it wrong.

Originally Posted by local

It is not just the cost it is the onerous system attached to parking, something that should be eased to facilitate much needed customers visits.

Attributing a value and consequent charge to providing the space is petty and irritating when the town is struggling.

Imagine a struggling shop charging entry.

If the town was booming then it would have a place we aren't.

When Tesco who could make all the same arguments start charging I might think I have it wrong.

ONEROUS SYSTEM ATTACHED TO PARKING, if putting the money in the slot and putting the ticket on display is ONEROUS you should neither be driving or shopping!