AUGUST TRADE NEWS Bad weather blamed for shopping centre delay Chester council  not supporting retailers New rules 'won't help save retail centre' Irish shoppers look abroad for bargains British consumers spend more on beauty products Yorkshire town gets behind plastic bag reduction scheme Rising obesity prompts calls for VAT rule changes eBay restructures fee scheme to make fixed-priced sales cheaper Online sales boom despite slowdown Music retailer goes out of business Matalan named and shamed for how it treats wholesalers BCC slams higher parking charges proposals Booming wholesaler moves to new warehouse Market traders told to only 'shout quietly' London's retailers show growth despite gloom Counterfeit goods dealer sentenced to prison UK's smallest town protests supermarket plan More retailers and wholesalers going out of business Online retail sector predicted to expand rapidly Henley retailers protest development plans Retail sales continue to slow Tiffany appeals US court's eBay ruling Report criticises electricity suppliers' treatment of small businesses MK retailers protest Tesco expansion plan Yorkshire retailers protest supermarket move Manchester wholesaler shut down over fraud worries Businesses welcome plans to reduce red tape Rate hold accepted by small businesses Internet sales put pressure on the high street Huge counterfeit goods haul in Somerset Irish entrepreneur online retail plans Wholesaler sector set to struggle Staycations could help British retailers Retailers 'gloomy' about economic outlook Retailers report footfall continues to decline as consumers cut back Hidden door reveals huge counterfeiting operation in Manchester shop No recession for the UK this year East London wholesaler goes into receivership London mayor reveals plans to support small retailers Toy retailers defy gloom Retailers urged to embrace online sales Trade News Archive August 08 July 08 June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 20th August 2008 BCC slams higher parking charges proposals The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has slammed suggestions that local councils should consider putting up the prices they charge shoppers to park in town centres. Earlier this week, local government minister John Healey said that councils should consider increasing parking charges in built-up areas, as the service was currently undervalued. However, the BCC has said that such a move was likely to adversely affect the country's independent retailers. What's more, the group suggested that it would undermine recent government efforts to promote town centres. "Mr Healey's comments go completely against his own department's ambition to regenerate and attract people to urban centres," BCC director general David Frost said. "People rely on their cars so without improvements to public transport or a proper alternative to the motorcar, the real effect will be to drive customers away, reducing the viability of those businesses in town centres." Mr Frost added that higher parking charges would simply force people to opt for places, such as out-of-town retail parks, where it "costs less to shop". Despite these reservations, the increased parking charges were welcomed by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA). Its spokesperson claimed: "Local businesses often object to parking charges, but the car park that is constantly full because it is too cheap is not bringing custom to local shops."   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd. Sponsor of August Trade News Cantilever TV Brackets   Comment on this news story To comment on any story please click on the above link, put the story title in the subject line and please provide your name, trading style ie. retailer or wholesaler and the town where you trade.