Report Raises Questions About Government's Retail Planning Policies
A main finding of the survey is that 59% of car drivers are not willing to switch any of their journeys to public transport in order to ease congestion. Only 9% of those currently doing their food shopping out of town by car would be willing to make alternative arrangements.
The public perception is that the main reason for traffic congestion is cars being driven to and from work or by parents taking their children to school. There is a combined 70% vote for these two trips whereas only 8% think that journeys to out of town retail outlets cause congestion. The ban on further out of town retail as a means of limiting traffic congestion therefore seems misplaced.
The Government's wish to reduce parking spaces at work, shopping centres, retail parks and food stores is extremely unpopular. 72% voted against reducing parking facilities where they shop and 68% were against a reduction in workplace parking.
One unexpected result of the survey is the comparatively poor support for longer Sunday trading. Only 35% are in favour of extending the current 6 hour limit.
Stephen Yarnold, chairman of BCOTR said:
The Government's desire to reduce traffic congestion and pollution is commendable but as this research indicates, shopping is not the problem. To succeed, they need to address the more difficult issues involved with the journey to work and the school run.
Reducing car parking for shopping is a ridiculous policy and should be stopped right now.
We call for a balanced approach to out of town retail. The benefits that it can bring should not be overlooked.
The British Council for Out of Town Retail was formed by property professionals to assist the Government in formulating the correct policy for the provision of shopping facilities. Amongst its 800 members is a wide spectrum of planning consultants, large investing institutions/property companies, retailers and their advisors. Its aim is to provide a focus for the critical analysis of Government policies and the formulation of new, more appropriate planning policies.
Technical details
MORI interviewed 1960 adults at 175 sampling points across Great Britain on 4-7 June 1999. The sample was representative of all adults in terms of age, gender, working status, socio-economic group and housing tenure.
