Guitar Shack owner seeks earlier end to Mary Street parking charges

The owner of Sheffield’s Guitar Shack has asked for Mary Street parking charges to end at 7pm rather than 8.30pm, saying parking tickets are threatening income from band rehearsals.

Tom Jackson raised the issue with Sheffield City Council’s transport, regeneration and transport policy committee on Wednesday 21 October, Examiner Live reports. He said some musicians had warned they could no longer afford to rehearse at the shop if they continued receiving tickets.

Committee chair Councillor Alexi Dimond said drivers could already use designated parking bays throughout the day, with charges applying before 8.30pm. He also pointed to nearby car parks.

Dimond said equipment could be loaded and unloaded on double yellow lines. He warned that free parking could attract commuters to Mary Street’s spaces, making access harder for customers of local businesses.

Rehearsal income at stake

Jackson said rehearsals generally began at 7pm and provided a major part of the income supporting Guitar Shack. The premises near the city centre also offer recording facilities and an instrument workshop, where he said he had trained several young school leavers on a non-profit basis.

He argued that ending restrictions earlier would preserve controls during daytime trading while allowing rehearsal customers to park without penalties.

Christopher Oates also challenged the restrictions, saying there was “no logical reason behind these restrictions”. He said the parking app he used appeared not to flag them, potentially leaving drivers unaware.

Source: Examiner Live