Some Bushey residents and businesses are concerned about Hertsmere Borough Council’s introduction of new permit parking zones.
On the High Street, shop owners are worried about the limited parking spaces available and the impact this could have on business.
Parking permits have been introduced to accommodate residents living above the shops, meaning less bays for shoppers and business owners.
Dilip Hirani, owner of Bushey Dry Cleaners, said: “Residents are doing their bit to help by shopping local and we really appreciate this. The Council on the other hand has, by introducing new High Street parking zones, new permits for High Street parking and reduced free parking time for shoppers, have effectively tightened the noose around our necks to be able to efficiently bounce back financially once lockdown has been lifted because it’s made it very difficult for customers to find adequate parking spaces to use the High Street shops.”
Peter McNulty, Resident of Koh i Noor Avenue, said: “One of the bones of contention is that there is a national slogan along the lines of ‘Shop local – stay safe’ and blocking up parking bays adjacent to shops with 24-hour permit parkers does nothing to aid that thought.”
Conservative Councillor Harry Mortimer for Bushey St James Ward said: “At the moment, the permits only allow them to park on the High Street. I have asked for a review to take place in six months instead of a year. I am suggesting these permits should allow parking at the golf club car park so that parking bays on the High Street could be for stop and shop.
“I think the council in large has done a good job, but where it hasn’t, we are putting pressure on them to make sure residents and businesses get a fairer deal as they should.”
Dilip, Bushey Dry Cleaners owner added: “With the financially draining COVID year, no support grant to keep going because we are deemed essential, it will be tough to keep the launderette open if now we lose any customers because they cannot find suitable parking space on the High Street.”
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