A BUSINESSWOMAN has warned she will not pay any more subscriptions to the chamber of trade until it starts understanding that without customers and easy parking, Ashburton will be unable to sustain the high level of businesses it can boast at present. Debbie Owen, of Trailventure, North Street, said that on Tuesday and Thursday last week she arrived at the main car park at 10am and was unable to park. She said her spirits were rising that there may be a town full of people, but instead found an empty North Street with empty shops. In a letter to the chamber of trade, with copies to the town council and county Cllr Stuart Barker, Ms Owen said she opened her minutes from the chamber every month hoping to see 'parking' at the top of the agenda. 'For the last 12 months the minutes and agenda have only been concerned with the Christmas lights. Very pretty, but not a lot of good when there are no customers to make the tills ring. 'This morning I overheard a very cross shopper saying they were not going to spend time and money coming to Ashburton again as it was the third time they had to hunt for a car parking space out of the main car park,' she wrote. Sympathising with Ms Owen, Cllr Rhona Parker told Tuesday's monthly town council meeting that it was people working in Ashburton and those with permits who were clogging up the car park. 'I have said for years that we should have a park and ride,' said Cllr Parker, who added that the chamber could not click its fingers to get a car park. She pointed out that shop staff parked at the bottom of the car park, which forced shoppers to walk further. 'You cannot expect customers to take second place and that is what this town is doing,' said Cllr Parker. Cllr Jonathon Richards said anyone who drove into a car park could park in any free space. 'Sometimes it is because it is the only space. I think there should be a little bit of common-sense before any comments are made like that,' he stated. Cllr Richards said that at one time parking was arranged in Chuley Road for businesses in the town. 'We made full use of that, but it became a lone car in a deserted area,' he said. Cllr Tony Pugh said if staff of chamber members were responsible for filling the car parks, maybe it could be brought to the chamber's attention to try to introduce car sharing. Welcoming a park and ride scheme, Cllr Brian Miller suggested contacting a bus company to see if it would run it for a trial period in the summer. Councillors will be discussing the matter further at a general purposes committee.
