Nothing was made up. I asked drivers - as they were leaving the car park - what they had spent. I was not interested in what they might spend when parked somewhere else in Chiswick (though several were on their way to Sainsbury's to do a big shop and others were driving to park on other roads to carry on shopping). I made it very clear I only wanted to know what they had spent while parked in the car park. Unfortunately, the article included the words "Based on what they told her about their spending intentions" which was incorrect and, immediately after reading the article, I emailed the editor asking if it could be changed. My exact words to the editor were, "Publishing intentions would be inadequate and not a robust argument. Would you be able to change this?" That was at 11.56am, hours before the first comment was posted in this thread. I hope that it might be corrected before the article appears on the website as it is inaccurate and misleading. For clarity, this is what I sent to the editor originally: SURVEY SHOWS CHISWICK’S CENTRAL CAR PARK IS WORTH £268 PER CAR TO THE LOCAL ECONOMYDrivers using Chiswick’s central car park on Chiswick High Road spend an average of £268 per car, according to a survey carried out by a local councillor earlier this month. The survey highlights the value of Chiswick’s central car park to the local economy.Carried out on a quiet Saturday afternoon during half term, the survey involved interviewing 46 drivers using the car park over two hours. Drivers and their passengers spent between £1.50 to over £6,500 on a variety of products from stationery to kitchen equipment. Most of those interviewed came from outside Chiswick – from Acton and Brentford to as far away as Ashford and Buckinghamshire. Only eight of the 46 drivers were from within Chiswick.Councillor Joanna Biddolph, who carried out the survey, has been asking for an assessment of the impact on the local economy of proposals to remove 14 parking spaces from the car park. After fears the assessment may never be carried out by Hounslow council, the local Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor decided to do the research herself.For two hours, from 13.50 to 15.50, on Saturday, 11th February, Jo interviewed 46 drivers as they left the car park. It was half term when many Chiswick residents go away, and during the Ireland v France rugby game with many watching indoors, so Chiswick was much less busy than usual. Parking enforcement officers were on strike and it was notable that several drivers parked for longer than the maximum two hours, knowing they wouldn’t be fined. The result was a lower turnover of spaces and, therefore, a lower spend per hour. “From just two hours on a quiet Saturday, it is clear how important to the local economy these parking spaces are – because our shopping choice is exceptional,” said Jo Biddolph, Conservative councillor for Chiswick Gunnersbury. “Traders who I have told about the potential loss of 14 spaces are horrified and extremely critical of the council for considering yet another anti-business policy. Losing these spaces would mean losing a massive £15,008 a day minimum. It is incumbent on all councillors and officers to incentivise traders and their customers to do business in Chiswick, not drive them away from our town by not enabling driving and parking in our town.”Notes to editorsA chart showing who spent what is below.** There are 50 spaces in the car park. If every space is filled for the maximum two hours, that is 200 drivers in an eight-hour day, spending an average £268 each, or £53,600 a day. On the day of the survey, many drivers parked for less than two hours, so typical spending per day could be higher.** The value of the 14 spaces at risk of being removed is £15,008 a day.** The 14 spaces flood and need drainage, not removal.
Joanna Biddolph ● 425d