'I'm worried I might lose 50 per cent of my customers': Parking fears over Wolverhampton regeneration scheme

The owner of a Wolverhampton cafe fears she could lose up to half of her customers under plans to redevelop the city’s former Sainsbury’s store.

Caty Jones, who runs K Teas Cakes in St George’s Parade, said she feared the loss of parking would put people off coming into the city and could decimate her trade.

Fran Zuccala , who runs the Eclipse gym in Tempest Street, also expressed concerns about the impact on his business.

Business leaders and residents are now organising a petition to save the car park at the former superstore, which is now operated by Wolverhampton Council.

Last month developer Capital & Centric held a consultation, inviting the public to have their say on its plans for up to 370 new homes, a food hall, public squares and offices on the site of the former supermarket. The former St George’s Church, which had formed the entrance to the Sainsbury’s, would be preserved as part of the scheme.

Announcing the consultation, Martin Crews of Capital & Centric, said: "St George's has been sitting empty for too long and we've got a real opportunity to create something special here, but the best ideas often come from the people who know the area best."

Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council, added: "Capital & Centric have an excellent track record in delivering complex urban regeneration schemes and this is a chance to deliver much-needed homes alongside events and public spaces, shops and amenities, creating opportunities for our communities and enhancing lives at the heart of the city.”

But Mary Bolland, who lives in The Curve, a block of flats in Tempest Street, feared that her home would be overwhelmed by the new development, transforming her peaceful neighbourhood into a crowded, rowdy area with increased traffic and parking problems.

Miss Jones, who has been running the cafe for almost nine years, said the lack of parking was already discouraging people from visiting the city.

She said the car park at the former Sainsbury’s, now run by Wolverhampton Council, provided parking for 400 cars.

“People say that the new flats will bring people into the area, but in my experience people who live in town tend not to eat and drink in the town, a lot of my customers park on Sainsbury’s go into town, and then on the way back to the car stop in for a coffee,” she said.

“I would like to think my customers will continue to come here, but over the years I have lost customers who don’t come into Wolverhampton any more because they don’t know where to park.

“I don’t know what the impact will be, but I’m worried it could be up to 50 per cent of my customers.”

Mr Zuccala, who has been in the city for more than 25 years, said his business brought about 1,500 people a week into the city, a large number of whom were children.

He asked the developer how many parking spaces would be lost as a result of the development, where those vehicles were expected to go, and the impact the displaced traffic would have on Tempest Street and the surrounding roads.

Mr Zuccala sought assurances that the development would maintain safe access for children and families attending his gym..

“Eclipse is not opposed to the regeneration of Wolverhampton,” he said.

“We want to see the city centre improve and succeed. However, regeneration should not come at the expense of an established community sports facility that already brings approximately 1,500 visits into the city centre every week.

“The development needs to demonstrate that adequate parking, safe access and appropriate construction arrangements can be maintained for the businesses and community facilities that are already here.”