'City should follow the examples set by car-friendly towns elsewhere'
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CAR-Friendly towns and cities should be serving as an example to Highland Council over how it runs the system in Inverness, one of the city’s leading independent traders believes.
Garek Begg is the man behind the Begg Shoes chain, which has premises across Scotland, a fact he says gives him real insight into what does and does not work for town centre businesses.
Backing attempts by Inverness Bid to persuade the council to review city centre parking arrangements and trial a period of 15 minutes free parking for car users, he said: “Above all I think people have to accept that, certainly in the Highlands, the car is far-and-away people’s first choice for getting about.
“I understand the arguments about needing to be green, to encourage people to walk and cycle more, but that can’t be the whole picture and it’s clear that people now aren’t opting for these as alternatives but are actually choosing not to come into town at all.
“When that’s the case something just has to be done.”
Family firm Begg Shoes began life back in 1886 and has had a presence in Inverness since 1983.
A second city store is due to open on the High Street shortly, joining the current premises on Union Street, and Mr Begg also recently bought over D&E Shoes, giving him a chain that now includes premises in Elgin, Perth, Inverurie, Lerwick and Kirkwall.
“Inverurie is somewhere I believe where they have really got it right. They offer a free half hour’s parking and you can see the difference it makes in really allowing people to get to where they want to be quickly and easily,” he said.
“It’s also policed properly so that you don’t get people trying to take more time than they’re entitled to, which means you get a constant flow of people into and through the town. I don’t think it’s about either or – car or bike – but at looking for ways you can accommodate both.
“Clearly the council get an income from city centre parking and the charges made for that, but I actually think there’s more to be made if you look at the rateable value of businesses.
“In Inverness that has gone down for me while in Inverurie it has gone up simply because that’s a more thriving centre.
“If a city wants to generate real income it has to have a good city centre and that means making it easier for people to use.”
As the Inverness Courier reported previously Bid chiefs are due to meet Highland Council bosses to discuss their proposals for changes to parking arrangements, including the idea for 15 minutes of free parking.
That meeting is due to take place on Thursday.
Mr Begg said: “It was clear to me around 20 years ago that something would need to be done. I just hope we get action now.”
