Pay and display to keep shoppers local in Lymm (From Warrington Guardian)

Pay and display to keep shoppers local in Lymm

5:20pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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TRADERS in Lymm are hopeful a new pay and display system in the village will help persuade shoppers to stay local.

Flyers were out in force at Thursday’s Street Food and Fun Fest – a free event to mark the start of Lymm Festival.

Thousands packed the centre of the village to try the food and sample the shops.

But that is not the reality and Lymm’s traders say more people need to shop in the village if it is to stay alive.

On Monday a pay and display system will be introduced at the main pay and display car park.

Shoppers can park for free for two hours but with heavy penalites for those choosing to park all day, traders are hopeful that it will free up space so people can always find a parking spot when they come to shop.

Speaking on Thursday Phil Sexton, from the traders group and Sexton’s bakery on The Cross, said he is hoping it will persuade people to use Lymm.

He added: “Parking has been a bone of contention for a long time.

“For the sustainability of the village, we cannot have people parking all day.

“We need people from Lymm to support the village. This is not just a place of beauty, it is a shopping centre but it will not remain a village if people do not support it.”

Henry Street and Davies Way car parks will remain free but if Pepper Street is a success, the scheme could be extended.

Mr Sexton also remains hopeful that a planned redesign of Davies Way will also allow more spaces.

He added: “There is a culture of convenience in this country, not of shopping for excellence.

“We can’t change a culture but I am confident this will have an effect.”

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