Parking impacting local business (Roads)

Sun 5 Oct, 19:00 (last edited on Mon 6 Oct, 06:58)

This thread seems to have gone – as they do – into a different discussion.

 Can I bring it back to Becky & Debi's opening question?  Which is important if you want to keep local services going...   

Charlbury is designated under WODC’s Local Plan (which runs to 2031) as a Rural Service Centre. 

 The WOLP is a hugely well meaning document but you don’t need to read it (unless you need a cure for insomnia) to understand what it means by a ‘rural service centre’.  Just look around at the facilities Charlbury offers – including of course the shops and services we - and the people in the 'outer regions' - all use and perhaps (like the Deli & Café) take for granted because they’ve been here for so many years.  Bit like the Rosie or Barry’s.  But most are businesses.  Unlike the CMC say – which has a guaranteed supply of ‘customers’ - they need people to choose to come in and spend their money – or they won’t survive. Simples!

 Not quite ‘simples’ at the Deli recently I grant you!  See the ‘other place’.  But the point here is that your Deli & Café has also suffered a downturn in trade since the new parking restrictions came in.  In that old phrase, use it or lose it.  I’m not talking personally here ok! Though at my age….

 Our very own Neighbourhood Plan (Section 6.4 since you ask) states at 6.4.7: “The nature of Charlbury means there are few opportunities for providing additional parking spaces for residents and users of local shops and services” (my italics).  Am guessing PK wrote that –  but everyone reading this knows it’s true!

 The ‘nature of Charlbury’.  Hhhmm.  The ancient street layout, obviously.  Far too many tanks around these days for my taste (all those shiny off-roaders that never go off road – just why??!!) – but equally, if we’re a ‘rural service centre’ it’s naïve to think people who live more than an easy walking distance from the Deli won’t just get in their cars when they need some coffee (no beans missing ok!), Colston Bassett cheese or those yummy new pies….

 And if you’re coming in from places like Fawler, Dean (hi Dave!), Chadlington, Spelsbury, Ditchley, Finstock, Ramsden or even Stonesfield or Enstone – I mean!! How long do you need to get your teeth fixed, your blood tested, your hair done (darlings, have you any idea how long my silver highlights took??), have a coffee and cake (please!!) in the Deli etc etc.  You get the point.  I hope ‘they’ will.

 So unless someone’s going to come up with ‘loadsamoney’ (excavate the Spendlove – overseen by Prof Alice Roberts (just, you know, essential to have someone of her expertise around…) – 3 storeys covered in greenery, EVs only in 5 years’ time and job done!).  Sorry, not going to happen.  

So at least – if you want local businesses to go on providing a service to you and employment for local people – let’s ask those nice OCC people to look at it carefully.  Unless you want to go into Chippy or Witney for everything….