I went into a couple of shops on Dartmouth Road today to see their reaction to my idea.

The thing is, lot's of people are aware that Forest Hill's got stuff that they want but, as you say, very few of them know that there are 2 good carparks within easy walking distance (notwithstanding the buggy and wheelchair argument).

I say - and I'll put up the first £100 for printing - that every shopfront in the town should display a well designed A4 or A5 sticker in its window saying
2 HOURS FREE PARKING NEARBY - with details showing the carparks at Perry Vale and Sainsburys.

This, I believe would not only bring more people into the town centre, and allow them to feel more relaxed than when they're parked on a 30min restricted bay, but it would undoubtedly attract more solid businesses to open-up here (please trust me on this one).