Concern over parking charge proposals
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) says charging people to park at out of town stores won't help regenerate town centres or cut the number of miles people travel to the shops.
It was reacting to suggestions by members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) that the feasibility of such a charge should be explored.
But the SRC says out of town stores are not the reason why town centre shops are struggling.
A spokeswoman said:
"Where town centre retailers are struggling it is not solely due to suburban competition. It is largely the result of huge increases in rents, rates and service charges in recent years."
