There is a fear in many shop keepers that the increase in paid for car parking will mean the Conservative administration at the City Council will soon start charging for parking on shopping streets like Albert Road and Marmion Road. This can only drive shoppers away from local shops.
Local Lib Dem Councillor Michael Andrewes is opposing paid for parking on shopping streets in Southsea. "We need to support our shops. Once the city council starts charging for parking the rates can go up and up. The city council is trying to increase the annual parking charge for people working on the seafront from £210 to £1,160. This will drive businesses out of the seafront. Now they seem to want to do this for shopping streets as well."