Parking charges are but only a small part of why the high street is failing. As a retail proposition town centres are simply inefficient and do not match customer requirements.
City centres have evolved over hundreds of years and are compromised by existing roads, public areas, older building etc etc. Store layouts are sub-optimal and car parking a discordant jumble.
Grocery shopping is the largest expense for most housholds. Out of town have adjacent parking, products and services under one roof, economies of scale, and capacity for easy delivery of stock.
Larger less frequently purchased items - furniture, diy, kitchen appliances etc also fare better out of town where the range displayed is not constrained by space availability.
For most (not all) people price and convenience is a major issue - independent butchers, bakers, greengrocers are delightful but minority interest.
Most traditional town centres are dying or already dead. Changing the balance of business rates and a tax on out of town parking spaces through extra business rates may delay but not eliminate the need for radical change.
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