I was astonished to receive a note from a resident forwarding a response she had had from the former Lib Dem Executive member for Economic Development and Business and current parliamentary candidate for Wokingham. She volunteers in a charity shop in Woodley and had written to him to complain about the effect of the huge parking charge increases on their business. Not only is it more difficult to get volunteers to work there as they have to pay to park whilst not earning money but takings have been hit.
I have talked to many businesses in the area to understand what is happening, one with more than one outlet told us that the turnover of the shop in Wokingham Borough had significantly declined since the charges increased whilst the one in nearby Bracknell had been unaffected.
So what did the Exec member for economic development say? He said that any impact on business, including the sudden drop in footfall when parking increased, is due to the economy and online shopping, no recognition of what the businesses are saying and the evidence they have produced. There is obviously little point in talking to him or expecting any sympathy or indeed action.
