Driven out of the area

Parking problems are driving shoppers out of Old Town, traders have said.

One shop that has been in Victoria Road for 160 years is considering moving because of the situation, and two others are closing for the same reason.

Trevor Whittle, managing partner of family-owned furniture and carpet store Spillers, said: "Car parking here is diabolical. It has made life extremely difficult for both customers and staff, so we are considering relocating somewhere car and van friendly."

Mr Whittle has just won outline planning permission to turn the store premises in Victoria Road into housing.

The old warehouses have already been turned into residential accommodation. Formerly behind the store, the warehousing has been moved to King John Street.

He said: "We have our roots here but Old Town is not what it used to be. Business is still strong but customers now have to make a big effort to come to us."

Mr Whittle has lost count of the number of times his van has been pulled up by the police for unloading outside the store.

He thinks the situation will get worse when Swindon Council takes over illegal parking enforcement from the police.

He explained: "When the council takes over parking, it will be even more of a nightmare. So at least if the problems persist we have the option of escaping somewhere more convenient for everyone. The problem is not with trade, simply our location."

Beside increasing the number of traffic wardens from two to 18, the council plans to introduce pay meters along Wood Street and at The Square.

The charges will be between 30p and 40p per 15 minutes, up to a maximum of an hour.

The Deja Vu furniture and gift store and the fairy-themed Tinkerbells shop, also in Victoria Road, are closing in the wake of the parking shortage.

Josi Hobbs, 28, set up Tinkerbells, her shop and children's party service, four years ago, but has decided not to renew her lease.

She said: "Passing trade is certainly quieter since parking became scarcer. Closing was a hard choice to make but I want a new challenge and plan to design children's bedrooms."

Other Old Town businesses also believe parking is responsible for a slump in trade.

Pauline Campbell, who owns Old Town Miniatures in Devizes Road, claims business has lately been the slowest in the six years she has been trading.

Traders say many people are unaware that the local car park, which once had an entrance in Devizes Road, is still open and can be accessed from Newport Street via Hooper Place. The 160-space car park has temporarily lost 60 spaces due to the development of Britannia Place - a mix of 64 flats, offices and shops. But developers Bloor Homes say they will create 50 more spaces before the project is completed this summer.

Pauline Campbell said: "Parking is such a big problem every customer who comes in complains about it. I just hope things pick up because it is virtually dead at the moment. There should be some proper signs because people think the car park has disappeared completely and aren't bothering to come here anymore."

The troubles have been exacerbated by the closure of Cricklade Street. The road has been closed for five weeks as part of a six-week project by gas company Transco to replace a gas main. The road will remain closed for a further two weeks, until April 7, while Swindon Council resurfaces it.

Traffic has been backed up around the area during rush hour ever since the work started.

Elaine Young, 27, who set up gift and home furnishings shop Young's of Wood Street last November, is suffering from a lack of passing trade.

She said: "Old Town is almost deserted at the moment and I rely almost entirely on passing trade. I knew things would be quiet after Christmas. But if trade doesn't pick up, my livelihood is at stake."

Sandwich shop Yummies is also suffering because of the closure.

Marion Comley has run the business for 21 years and takings are down by between £70 and £100 a day since the road works began.

She said: "This is the worst I have ever experienced and I blame the council's lack of foresight. All the troubles have come at once, making it extremely hard for small businesses to survive."

The closure of the Princess Margaret Hospital may also have contributed to a drop in trade. Anticipating falling passenger numbers, Thamesdown Transport now runs fewer buses to Old Town. Since the closure there is no longer a direct service from six Swindon districts Gorse Hill, Eldene, Nythe, Shaw, Covingham and Liden.

David Burch, operations director of Thamesdown Transport, said: "When we changed our services last December, we had to predict passenger levels in the light of the hospital closure. Although the volume of buses passing through Old Town has hardly fallen, the routes have altered. But we have not had a huge number of complaints from people asking for a more direct service to Old Town."

Councillor Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town & Lawns) denies that parking poses a serious problem and stresses that the downturn in retail trading is widespread.

He said: "This is a difficult time for all traders, not just those in Old Town. Every time I visit Old Town, there are always empty car park spaces."

Coun Bawden admitted that the Old Town core area was currently a "builder's yard" but insisted that the provision of parking remained a top priority.

He said: "Parking and signing are currently being discussed with council officers. Traders should be looking forward to life after the core redevelopment, which is set to revitalise Old Town."

Planning consultant Peter Lawson, executive committee member of Old Town Business and Professional Association, also disputed the severity of the parking problem.

He said: "I never have any trouble finding a parking space in Old Town's various car parks. Although the road works are effectively steering people away from the area, this is only short term."

Mr Lawson is also pleased with future plans to introduce controlled short stay parking on Wood Street and The Square.

He said: "I support the measures. Shoppers will have more chance of finding a space because office workers will not be able to park their cars there all day."

Echoing Coun Bawden's optimism, Mr Lawson thinks shopkeepers should be more upbeat.

He added: "Traders are doing themselves a disservice. It is time to talk up Old Town. We are about to turn an exciting corner. Although the core development construction may have brought some parking pains, the end result will definitely be worth it."

Swindon Council spokesman Gavin Calthrop said: "Permanent signs are already in place directing motorists to the new car park entrance in Newport Street. More will be in place once the redevelopment is complete. We have and will continue to maintain close contact with the developers and local councillors to ensure adequate parking provision in Old Town. When people move into the new properties this can only be good news for nearby shops."

Mr Calthrop stressed the benefits of bringing pay meters to the area.

He said: "It will be easier to find on-street parking spaces due to increased turnover. Passing trade for business will increase as on-street commuter parking stops."