The owner of an Angus hotel and restaurant has warned job losses and business closures are “inevitable” if parking charges are introduced.
Graeme Gersok, owner of the Townhouse Hotel in Arbroath High Street, has spoken of his concerns at parking charges coming to Angus in an increasingly tough climate for businesses.
He has seen his business rates almost double and his operation, which employs 27 people, has also affected by the rise in the national minimum wage and employers having to make greater pension contributions.
Mr Gersok said parking charges would be a further blow for businesses and make redundancies and closures a “sad reality” in Angus.
He said: “I’m looking at all the increases in costs I’m facing and it’s difficult, it really is.
“I can’t see the parking charges not making an impact on my business. What can you do in 15 minutes? You can’t even get a haircut let alone dine.
“I can’t see how asking people to pay to visit a premises is going to boost business in any way.”
Angus Council is currently running a consultation over the introduction of parking charges, which reveals a plan for 15 minutes of free parking.
Meanwhile a petition calling on the council to allow 30 minutes of free parking has gathered over 3,600 signatures.
“The parking plans means I’ll have a £2 levy put on my business,” Mr Gersok added.
“If there are fewer customers and higher fixed costs, I think it’s inevitable there will be job losses and closures in Angus.
“The business climate is becoming difficult for everyone – even the big boys like Toys R Us and Maplin. This would be a backwards step.”
Angus Council is planning to introduce the parking charges on October 1 this year.
The authority’s depute leader and finance convener Angus Macmillan Douglas has revealed the local authority hopes they will raise £300,000 in the current financial year and then £700,000 in 2019-20.
In Forfar a community council survey of 59 retailers in the town found that 90% thought the move would be bad for business.
