Parking proposals ‘must have support’

12:13pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

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The county council highways department has said that it has no intention of altering the time drivers can park in Devizes Market Place.

Last week the town council was told that parking in the “green zone” in the centre of town was to be reduced to 30 minutes from an hour as part of a review of parking restrictions in the town.

Councillors took this as meaning that this would include the central area of the Market Place but this week the county council has released a statement to say that is not the intention.

A county council spokesman said: “The thought behind the plan is to provide a good turnover of spaces for those customers wanting to do a quick bit of shopping.

“People wanting to stay longer can park in the middle of the Market Place, which will stay as free one-hour parking.

“The proposals are at a very early stage and a decision has not yet been taken.

“They have now been forwarded to Devizes Town Council for comment and after their comments have been received a decision will be made about whether to progress the scheme.”

The county would also be seeking the views of the Chamber of Commerce and would advertise the scheme to give the public the opportunity to comment on the proposal to limit free town centre parking to 30 minutes.

Currently motorists can park in the “green zone” in the town centre for an hour.

Many residents and traders in the town have expressed horror at cutting parking to 30 minutes.

Now County Hall says it will only go ahead if the community is in favour. A spokesman said: “The decision to leave the parking bays unaltered in Long Street was taken after consultation with the district council and the police.

“However, we will continue to monitor the situation in Long Street. Given the demand for parking from the traders, it may mean any suspension of parking bays will not be well received among the town’s traders.”