SHOPFLOOR ANALYSIS | Government red tape
Councils just don’t get it in the real world of business. They waste money on hare-brained schemes, and don’t cater for the majority of people’s needs
Ian Coghill, co-director, Riddle and Coghill Interiors
France, Spain and Italy. Pre-Brexit we could place an order with our continental suppliers and have products delivered within Europe. Post-Brexit these products land in the UK and are then sent back to Europe, which logistically doesn’t make sense. Furthermore, we end up in a double VAT situation.” However, somewhat closer to home, locally- imposed parking charges are also causing issues with KBB retailers.
High-street headaches Ian Coghill, co-director of Edinburgh-based Riddle and Coghill Interiors, comments: “We’ve recently had parking charges imposed on all the roads surrounding our premises. We also have the possibility of a 24/7 bus lane directly in front of our showroom looming, and also, have just had pavement parking banned. We have a pavement approximately 5m wide at our showroom front, which allows a vehicle to unload display kitchens if we are doing a refit inside. But customers are less likely to visit as parking is always an issue.” And Coghill believes it’s not just customers who
are affected, adding: “Staff reconsider their employment if they can’t commute easily, and parking costs are an issue along with the lack of affordable public transport. It’s often cheaper to have a car and share with a spouse to travel in than go by train – if they’re running – and if a station is close to home or work. If it isn’t, you need a car anyway to get to a station. Councils, or should I say councillors, just don’t get it in the real world of business. I think they waste money on hare-brained schemes, don’t cater for the majority of people’s needs, and focus on those who band together and shout very loudly.”
Meanwhile Matthew Parnum, director of ICE Interior in Lymington, explains: “Our kitchen studio is based in a retail courtyard just off the high street. After many years of threatening change, Hampshire County Council finally implemented parking meters along the High Street in 2023, and whereas the old system allowed people free parking within marked bays for up to two hours, the new scheme only allows 20 minutes free, and then charges £1 per hour with a maximum stay of two hours. “There seemed very little actual need for this change. In a time of high inflation and a cost-of- living crisis, it seems incredible that our council feels that imposing these charges is appropriate.” He continues: “In our opinion these parking charges are just another barrier to deter browsing and shopping on the high street, and it has definitely had a negative impact on footfall, particularly for the locals. We have a very mixed demographic of visitors – from elderly residents who rely on their cars, to wealthier holiday visitors during the summer months, and it’s definitely affected trade for the local independent businesses. There’s not been any noticeable benefit from the funds being raised or any evidence of how this additional revenue is being spent locally. Our roads remain just as potholed and as bad as the rest of
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the country! “We’re just having to accept the parking charges
and have increased our marketing spend in an effort to maintain awareness.” KBB retailers also face the issue of business rates. Coghill asks where these rates actually go. He says: “We pay approximately £10k per year in business rates, but what are these overinflated costs really for? The matching residential property above our showroom pays approx. £2,500 in rates, with the same footprint. They probably use more things like water, as we only have cups of tea or coffee at work. Again, where is the value for us?” Frankie Powell, managing director of Northern
Ireland-based Lily Bain Bathrooms & Tiles, adds: “Business rates continue to be a major overhead for small businesses, and any increase this year could lead to a number becoming unprofitable because of this cost alone.”
Support
Campaigners believe far more can be done to breathe new life into our dwindling high streets. Parnum, of ICE Interior, explains: “Up and down the country, our high streets have changed, and we’re seeing many retailers closing, and being replaced by more leisure-based businesses, including coffee shops, betting shops, and charity shops. Despite many campaigns, it’s hard to see what the Government is doing to effect any real change and provide any help. Business rates continually increase but offer no real value, as even processes like refuse collection aren’t included.
Despite many campaigns, it’s hard to see what the Government is doing to effect any real change and provide any help for businesses
Matthew Parnum, director, ICE Interior in Lymington
There also seems to be a decline in general maintenance, including street cleaning and removal of graffiti. Unless some action is taken, we’ll all lose something very valuable.”
Coghill concludes: “Councils should stop seeing businesses as a cash cow. The majority of councillors I have come in contact with are clueless, ignorant people who don’t look at the greater benefit for all. They may think they are helping when they make a decision, but are they making it worse for a larger group? “I recently heard of some people that I’d say
were stalwarts of our industry now having to cease trading. I fear there’ll be more good people who may be starting to consider putting their feet up. It certainly isn’t getting any easier to run a business, never mind one in the KBB industry.”
• March 2024
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