65 BUSINESS Szabo, Portfolio Director at Spring & Autumn Fair, said: “Retailers aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking us to remove one of the practical barriers that both businesses and shoppers believe is discouraging visits to our town centres. When retailers and consumers independently arrive at the same conclusion, I don’t think we should ignore it, we should act.” Rather than viewing parking solely as a transport issue or source of revenue, the campaign encourages it to be considered as one of several tools available to support economic growth. Making town centres easier to access encourages people to spend more time on the high street. Creating more opportunities to browse independent retailers, stop in cafés, visit markets and support the mix of businesses that give every town centre character. Jackson continued: “The best high streets are places where people don’t just buy one thing and leave. They browse independent shops, stop for lunch, meet friends for coffee and discover businesses they hadn’t planned to visit. That’s exactly the kind of local economy retailers tell us they want to build, and making town centres easier to access is one practical way of encouraging that behaviour.” Alongside the petition, retailers are being invited to join the campaign through a dedicated Retailer Toolkit, including window posters, QR-code till stickers, social media graphics and digital assets, enabling businesses to encourage customers to sign and share the petition. Trade associations, suppliers, local business groups and industry organisations are being encouraged to support the campaign and help build momentum. TO SIGN THE PETITION: https://petition.parliament.uk/ petitions/772686 To download the retailer campaign pack email: visitor@autumnfair.com Jonathan Monck Mason The campaign is calling for: • Introduce a law which requires all local authorities in England to provide a minimum of 90 minutes’ free parking in town and city centres across England. • Greater recognition of parking as part of wider town centre regeneration and local economic growth. • Practical measures that encourage more people to visit, spend and support independent businesses. • Retailers, consumers, industry organisations and local communities to support the Parliamentary petition. Jackson added: “For years we’ve talked about saving the high street. Perhaps it’s time we started talking more about making it easier for people to use it. If retailers, shoppers, local authorities and industry partners all get behind practical changes like this, together we can help create town centres that people choose to visit again and again.” The Parliamentary petition is now live, with retailers, consumers, suppliers, trade bodies, local authorities and communities encouraged to sign, share and help demonstrate the strength of support for practical action to help Britain’s high streets thrive.
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