Anger as Tesco says only its customers can park free now

Tesco in Church Road, Hove, has announced it will stop offering two hours’ parking.

The supermarket’s decision has caused dismay among retailers in nearby George Street who said the move would kill off business.

Councillor Clare Moonan has set up an online petition calling on the supermarket bosses to reverse the decision.

From Thursday, motorists will only be able to park free for 30 minutes in the Church Road car park. To qualify for two hours’ free parking drivers will need to spend at least £5 in the store.

At present the car park is often used by parents on the school run going to nearby St Andrew’s but also by people visiting the shops and cafes of pedestrianised George Street.

Traders there said yesterday that recent months had been tough.

Nigel Haigh, who owns Willow clothing boutique, said: “This has been the worst year in the last ten years.

“We’ve lost four units in the last four months.

“So I think this will be the last nail in the coffin for some retailers in George Street.”

Hannah Chu owns Venus Nails and Beauty.

She said: “This will kill businesses and the street is already struggling.

“Our customers use that car park all the time. Five pounds isn’t a lot but it will affect how many people come into George Street.”

Lorna Lewis is manager of Truffles bakery.

She said: “Thirty minutes is OK if you’ve got one thing to do but it’s detrimental to the rest of the shops because people can’t take their time and shop around.”

Julian Pelling, who owns Fine Records, said: “This is very bad news, it’s terrible.

“Aren’t Tesco making enough money?”

Barbaros Tanc, owner of Lala’s cafe said the street was struggling, adding: “There should be free parking somewhere for customers.”

Both Central Hove ward councillors, Clare Moonan and Andrew Wealls, have written to Tesco to appeal against the supermarket bosses’ decision.

Ms Moonan said: “I think it will be a disaster for George Street and the surrounding shops if Tesco restrict their free parking to 30 minutes.

“So many people depend on our much-loved shops in George Street.

“This could put their viability in real jeopardy.

“I have written to Tesco asking them to reconsider this move.

“I have also started a petition to call on them to reinstate the two hours free parking.”

The Argus contacted Tesco but at the time of going to press it had not responded.

To sign the petition click here. 

‘IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO SURVIVE’

THE owner of a cafe which has been trading for 11 years said the Tesco decision might force him out of business.

Barbaros Tanc, who owns Lala’s in George Street, said this had been his toughest year’s trading yet and that he has considered selling up rather than face the prospect of fewer customers.

The 57-year-old said: “George Street is not having a good time, it feels like a neglected part of town.

“This is going to make it harder for us to survive.”

He said the pedestrianised street too often looks dirty and that empty units are a sign that rents are too high and shoppers too few and far between.

Several of the cappuccino drinkers in Lala’s said that they were regulars due to the convenience of the two hours’ free parking offered by Tesco in Church Road.

So Mr Tanc is extremely concerned about the impact of the forthcoming change, reducing free parking to just 30 minutes – or two hours dependent on spending £5 in the supermarket.

He said: “Thirty minutes isn’t enough.

“There should be free parking at least somewhere for our customers.

“It’s hard enough already in the current economic climate.

“It’s going to have a massive impact.

“The bottom line is they don’t care about the small businesses, it’s all can they make money at any cost.

“They should have a responsibility to the local community. It can’t all be about profit.”

He argued that on-street parking is too expensive and too many coffee shops have opened, squeezing profits for everyone.

“It’s disheartening,” he said. “Some days I don’t make as much money as my chefs. Maybe I should sell.”

ORIGINAL PLANS SHOW THE COUNCIL APPROVED TOUGHER RULES

THE charge for parking reverses a 2009 decision and returns the supermarket car park to its original plan.

The Argus has unearthed the original planning application for Church Road Tesco, submitted to the council on March 6, 2003.

It shows the recent deal enjoyed by Hove shoppers is better than the one originally agreed with planners.

The decision, passed by the committee on May 28, 2003, states in relation to parking provision: “Between nought and two hours the car park shall be free for customers to the store.

“Between nought and twohours charges for non store customers shall be set at a level to discourage long-term parking set at least to the equivalent operated by the council at other car parks.”

When the shop opened in 2003, motorists had to spend £5 in the store to be able to park free.

The current arrangement, with two hours’ free parking for all users, was introduced in 2009.

At the time a Tesco spokesman said: “Obviously we are pleased to be able to provide this for our customers and hopefully it will encourage further link trips with our store and the rest of the town.”

And Jill Humphrey, vice-chairwoman of Hove Business Association, said: “It’s a step in the right direction. If you have two hours’ free parking that’s a lot better than 30 minutes.

“It opens the area back up again to the George Street and the Blatchington Road traders who have really suffered because of the criteria with that car park.”

For traders in the area, this is literally a step backwards.