© South Wales Evening Post - 10 September 2005
Increases in parking charges should be scrapped as part of an urgent city centre rescue package, it has been claimed. The call to reverse the controversial rises is needed to help retailers compete with out-of-town retailers, according to the city's Labour leader.
David Phillips wants a task force to be set up to introduce immediate measures to help traders in the city centre compete with the out-of-town estates where parking is free.
It follows the announcement that another major retailer is abandoning the city centre, following the departure of former city mainstay David Evans.
Children's clothing chain Mothercare confirmed this week that it is to abandon its Kingsway store after nearly 30 years, adding to the growing list of vacant city centre retail properties.
Councillor Phillips said: "Although we welcome that the council is adopting our phased approach to regeneration, following the House of Fraser pull-out, time is running out. We have a recent survey showing that there are nearly 50 vacant retail premises in the centre - a record figure.
"Our first suggestion is that the hike in long-stay charges which can cost visitors up to £5 day should be suspended."
Council leader Chris Holley hit back at and defended the administration's approach to regeneration.
He said: "It is quite amazing that Councillor Phillips and his colleagues seem to be making a huge comment about this when for the previous years the city stood still. There was little if anything to improve the city centre.
"Many of the properties have not been upgraded since the 1970s and we are working hard to revamp the city centre.
"We are following on policies that they had adopted. We are looking at upgrading places but our primary concern is to make sure that the centre is vibrant and we are working with developers to bring them on board."
