One of the city’s oldest shops has called for changes to make Nottingham more accessible for shoppers. Weavers of Nottingham, a wines, spirits and liqueurs shop, has based itself in the city centre for more than 100 years but believes there are "quick fixes" Nottingham City Council could implement to help independent businesses like theirs thrive in the high streets.
Managing director, Philip Trease, said Weaver’s hub in Castle Gate, is “here to stay” despite moving its warehouse operations out of the city centre during the pandemic, but the 49-year-old believes businesses like his, as well as customers, could benefit from reduced parking charges in the city centre, as well as ‘click-and-collect’ zones, where shoppers can park for a set time for free, before being charged.
Mr Trease who took on the role of managing director in January 2020, but has worked in his family company since the 1990s, said: “We’ve been committed to the city for the last 120 years and we’re certainly going to be committed for the years to come.
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“The ‘sh-office’ [the Castle Gate store which doubles up as a place for admin and online sales for staff] is here to stay as far as I can see. Like any other city Nottingham has its challenges, but I still believe Nottingham is a great city, it’s a great place to be. I’d be sad if we moved.
“We’ve spent a lot of money in the shop so I don’t want to, but we have to address all options. We’ve got an empty street here.
The council need to work on modern click-and-collect zones. Why can’t these streets be 40 minutes, half an hour, free parking, to encourage people to come to use local shop facilities. That would help out businesses no end. That [click-and-collect zones] would be the biggest single thing that would make us stay, if we had a little bit of flexibility with customers coming to do click-and-collect and have a bit of leeway before they pay excessive parking charges.
"There’s a lot of quick fixes the council could do to encourage business.. But unfortunately, no one from the council has ever come to discuss what they can do to help businesses like us. “
Mr Trease also suggested that parking in the city centre could be made cheaper for those who choose to drive in. He noted that public transport or cycling isn’t always ideal for customers who want to buy crates of wine from his store to take home.
He added: “I agree with policies that make everything go greener. But when you’re coming into Nottingham city centre you’re paying overly excessive parking charges.
When did you last pay a parking charge when you called in at a supermarket or at a retail park, so, of course, businesses are being driven to out of town.”
Other small businesses have since weighed in on Mr Trease’s idea to cut parking charges and introduce click-and-collect-zones. Jill Perry, who owns Inspired Gift Shop in Flying Horse Walk said: “Anything that would reduce the cost of people coming in would be good.”
But not all agreed with the idea. Ross Bradshaw, owner of Five Leaves Bookshop, off Swann's Yard, said: “I don’t agree. I think it’s better for the environment in the city to be a car-free zone where people can walk around.
“I remember when it was not a car-free zone and the city centre was hell. It’s so much better as a pedestrian for people to walk around in comfort.
“I don’t see why people would want to change that. Public transport to the city centre is great with the trams and the buses.”
Nottingham City Council said: A City Council spokesperson said: “We value independent businesses like Weavers which play a big part in Nottingham’s unique appeal to shoppers and other visitors. We have made grants available to many city businesses, including Weavers, to help them continue to trade successfully.
“We also work with Nottingham Business Improvement District to provide city businesses with support and there’s activity underway and in the pipeline which will help to improve the appeal of the city centre, from ‘quick fixes’ like new planters and street art on shopping streets to long-term development such as transforming the Broad Marsh area and improving shop fronts with national heritage funding.
“We’re always open to suggestions from local businesses about what more we can do to help them as they recover post-pandemic and try to find new ways to attract customers during the cost-of-living crisis and as online shopping increases. In terms of the parking issues raised, city council car parks are generally priced lower than our private competitors, including a great £5 all day early bird offer at the Broad Marsh car park.
“Our parking enforcement officers will always give a period of grace before issuing tickets.”
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