COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of delivering “another nail in the coffin” for town centre retailers by scrapping the traditional free parking dates for Christmas shoppers.

As reported yesterday, BCP Council cited budget pressures for the decision not to offer the perk in its town centres or district high streets.

Kris Gumbrell, Bournemouth-based chief executive of the Brewhouse & Kitchen pub chain – which has venues in Bournemouth, Poole and Southbourne – said the decision was “another nail in the coffin for the retailers”.

He said: “Clearly the council are in a dire financial state. It feels like even BCP Council have given up on the town and now just want a cash grab and to hell with the carnage.

“I feel for the small independents. Consumers are under huge pressure already. This is one more reason to go to Westquay or Gunwharf quays, pay the parking and get the full retail experience.”

The council is looking at a range of spending cuts, with its auditor, Grant Thornton, warning its ability to balance the budget for next year and beyond seemed “increasingly fragile”.

Mr Gumbrell said of the parking decision: “It's like grubbing round the back of the sofa for loose change when you've just defaulted on your mortgage.”

Poole Town independent councillor Andy Hadley said: “To encourage buying local rather than online, I would be keen to see something that supports equally people using the bus, Beryl bikes or the car to shop in our town centres leading up to Christmas. The Conservatives have emptied the council coffers and aim to increase fees and charges, so it’s no surprise that they are not offering free parking.”

Broadstone councillor and Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Vikki Slade said she was particularly concerned about district shopping centres, many of which have no business improvement district (BID) to promote them.

She said parking concessions could be competing with libraries and day centres for council money.

“The council is under massive pressure. I think there are much bigger cuts to come,” she said.

Bournemouth Central councillor Mike Greene, who is the council’s cabinet member for transport, said seasonal parking concessions had little effect on footfall and sales.

“I think that it’s right that we should be concentrating on public transport and alternative transport and I’m really pleased that Morebus and Beryl have come in on that,” he said.

“I think there are much better ways in which the council can and is supporting town centre shopping rather than delivering the rather outdated approach of seasonal parking concessions which seem to have very little effect on actual footfall.”