Councillors launch petition for residents parking scheme for Weston town centre

Councillors launch petition for residents parking scheme for Weston town centre

Weston-super-Mare councillors Mike Bell and Robert Payne have launched a petition campaign to persuade North Somerset Council to introduce a residents' parking scheme for the town centre.

North Somerset Council is planning to apply for permission to introduce Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) - which means the council will take over responsibility for parking from the police. The council will employ new parking wardens and parking restrictions will start to be enforced properly again.

However, the council will not be introducing any form of residents' parking permits or zones as part of this scheme.

North Somerset Councillor Mike Bell (Weston-super-Mare Central Ward) said: "The council is wrong not to look at the needs of residents. They should consult on options for improved residents parking as part of the work to introduce CPE.

"Too many residents cannot park near their own home because of visitor and commuter parking. We think that a residents' parking scheme might help in some areas to address this and that the council should investigate introducing one."

He was backed by Weston-super-Mare Town Councillor Robert Payne who added: "The introduction of pay and display on-street in the town centre has already hit residents living in the zone and those immediately outside.

"We are all for the introduction of CPE - it's about time frankly - but it is a mistake to overlook the case for a residents' parking scheme. Many of the parking issues faced by people living in Weston Central ward will simply not be addressed by CPE alone."

The councillors are urging residents who agreed that this issue needs to be looked at again to sign their petition online at www.tinyurl.com/wsmparking

ENDS