Park the Charges: Stalwart town centre business slams council for ‘zero understanding’ of parking impact

A stalwart town centre business owner has slammed West Northamptonshire Council for having “zero understanding” of the impact of increased parking charges.

Launched last Thursday (November 5), the Chronicle & Echo’s Park the Charges campaign is calling for free parking at all council-owned multi-storey and surface car parks, as well as the premium on-street parking, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 until December 20 – as well as Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

We believe this is key to the success of the town centre this festive period and the survival of the beloved businesses at the backbone of the Northampton community into 2027 and beyond.

The next to speak out in support of Park the Charges is business owner Kathryn Ozlati from Saint Gyles Jewellers, which has been open on St Giles’ Street for four-and-a-half decades and she has been involved from the very beginning.

The family-run and traditional jeweller sells engagement rings, pre-owned jewellery and watches, fashion brands, high-end and bespoke items, and it is also home to an on-site workshop.

This is proudly home to Northampton’s jewellery repair centre, where the team undertakes same day repairs on a quick turnaround and provides insurance valuations.

“The council has zero understanding of the impact of parking charges on the town centre,” said Kathryn. “There are fewer people in the town centre and it has a knock-on effect to a totally negative vibe.

“Without some real vitality in the town, which the council has got to be responsible for creating, we’re not going to get anywhere. It’ll be stagnant. We know the demise of the high street is a national issue, but the council needs to take the bull by the horns and come up with a plan.

“Otherwise there will be a freefall of businesses who are going to close, and they can’t and won’t see it. I can’t see how to get through to them. We need free parking or incentives and then publicise it. Not a little sign, it needs a massive campaign. It’s half-hearted.”

Kathryn told the Chronicle & Echo of two recent meetings that WNC held for business owners in recent weeks.

“We were told they’re looking at the next budget now,” Kathryn continued. “There’s no question they will always look at parking as an easy target. Parking is in the firing line without a doubt.”

Kathryn travels a round trip of 110 days miles a day to run her business, which takes nearly three hours. She arrives at around 8.15am each morning and has to bleach her shopfront, which she says is regularly covered in vomit.

The business owner was frustrated when the council told her they regularly walk around and do not see that, as she said of course they do not as she clears it up first thing each morning.

“They were talking about a 10-year plan, there’s no point, we need a six-month plan,” said Kathryn. “They have zero idea about the seriousness of this.”

Kathryn praised Councillor Charlie Hastie, deputy leader of WNC, for being “reasonably proactive” and suggesting the use of the screen in the foyer of One Angel Square to advertise businesses – which she believes would “go a really long way”.

The business owner continued: “Very cynically, I think the ideas the council launches are a bit half-hearted. People need to be asking the shop owners. It’s disjointed and I’m not excited about what they come up with. We need to claw people back and it’s too little, too late.”

Kathryn says there has been a “definite downturn” in the number of shoppers over the last two-to-three months since parking charges were increased, and she remains passionate about trying to get through to WNC about the “detrimental” impact that increases have.

If you would like to be part of the Chronicle & Echo’s campaign for free parking in Northampton town centre this Christmas, email [email protected].