The Albion Roar
97.2FM
Day 2 - http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14796293.City_must_clean_up_its_act_to_attract_more_visitors/
I think the obsession with parking charges is a mistake, only public transport can help here - More people in cars = More traffic, more queues and people not returning.
Quite. The opening line reads like a fact from an expert, whereas in reality it's an opinion from a Tory councillor with his own political bias, and believing that the city is going to hell in a handcart.
"BRIGHTON and Hove needs tidying up, cheaper parking, better public transport and less seafront roadworks to win back the almost one million day trippers lost."
So here's the converse opinion as to why his statement is really just grandstanding. Let's look at those four...
1. It probably could do with a bit of a tidy up. But that's what happens when 9m visitors come in each year - it gets used. But then, the street cleaners are out every day. Daytrippers themselves could do worse than taking their rubbish with them off the beach and so on. But it's not as though it's a rubbish tip 24/7.
2. Cheaper parking is missing the point spectacularly. Traders in North Laine, for example don't want cheaper parking. Cheaper parking means less of a turnover of footfall, as drivers. The fact that motorists are still filling up the car parks implies that necessity over-rides the concerns of costs. If he wants to find another direct revenue stream from his own party's horrific cuts in local authority spending, let's hear it. Additionally, it is utter madness to encourage more motorists into the centre of Brighton. He really hasn't thought that one through.
Don't forget, aside from car parking charges, motorists don't add to the economy of the city. They only do so when they get out and become pedestrians.
3. Public transport is expensive in Brighton & Hove for a single journey, but much better value for mulitple journeys. If that's his point, it's not unreasonable. However, the public transport network is extensive; bus journeys are frequent, and cover most of the city - and certainly the centre. If he's talking about the trains, then get his own party in goverrnment to stop wrecking the network.
4. If the seafront road needs repairing, it needs repairing.