A petition has been launched by a Lymington trader demanding the one hour free parking returns in the high street

MORE than a thousand people have signed a petition launched by a fed-up Lymington trader who says recently introduced high street parking meters are putting shoppers off.

Anthony Harwood is calling for the previous hour of free parking to be brought back, and since going online a week ago, the petition has flown past 1,000 signatures.

The owner of Perfumery & Co, who runs the store with partner David McConnachie, says he is “worried” about the impact the meters, which were installed last August, are having on shops and businesses in the town.

At present there is a period of 30 minutes of free parking – 10 minutes grace and 20 minutes free. But drivers must enter their number plates into a meter to obtain a ticket

Mr McConnachie said: “Every day we hear from customers who say 30 minutes is just not enough time and that some are now avoiding the high street because they cannot afford to pay for the parking as well.

“People, especially the elderly, also struggle to input their registration number.

“We as a business are still doing alright but between our shop and Costa Coffee there are now five empty shops. Every day there are empty parking spaces along the high street.

“Lymington is getting like Bournemouth with lots of empty shops. The meters are definitely having an effect because the town’s a lot quieter than it was before they were introduced.”

The petition asks people to “help us challenge Hampshire County Council to bring back one hour of free parking on Lymington High Street with no ticket required”.

Charges are £1 per hour up to a maximum of two hours between 9am and 6pm.

Another business owner supporting the petition is Neil Welker, who owns Elliotts.

He said: “Thirty minutes is just not enough time. When the meters were being considered there was opposition from traders in the town, NFDC, the parish council, the chamber of commerce and the public.

“But our objections were ignored by the county council, which I believe just saw the meters as a revenue-raising measure.”

He says Lymington appears to have been “targeted” by HCC, in contrast to other towns like Ringwood, New Milton and Totton that have been left alone.

Mr Welker told the A&T: “It is not fair that our town has been singled out. I want to know from HCC that they will be putting meters into those towns too.

“I will also be asking for the review of the parking system it promised us a year on from when the meters were installed.

“I think there certainly needs to be one to see how much they are taking and what the effect on the shops and businesses in Lymington has been since.”

Among the comments from those signing the petition is one that states: “There is nothing like killing off the high street is there!”

To sign the petition, visit: www.change.org/p/bring-back-1-hour-free-parking-on-lymington-high-street