A THREATENED car park in Dursley will remain fully open to the public while a multi-agency team seeks out suitable alternatives.

Representatives from Dursley Town Council, Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council met last Thursday to discuss the future of Castle Street car park.

News that the county council intended to reserve a dozen spaces for social workers broke in April, shocking many residents and councillors who already held serious concerns over the town’s parking provision following the closure of Long Street car park earlier in the year.

The purpose of last week’s meeting was to discuss the future of the 26-space car park in Castle Street, an issue which had been subject to debate at the town’s recent annual assembly.

Though the county council still intends to base a group of social workers in Dursley Library and utilise the car park for that group, they gave a firm commitment that the car park would remain untouched until further time was taken to find potential solutions to Dursley’s parking troubles.

Dursley’s mayor Neil Grecian said: “I am pleased with the positive nature of today’s discussion and the willingness from the county and district representatives to work together to form a solution which will support the needs of the county council but also protect the town centre from any negative impact.”

County councillor for Dursley and leader of Stroud District Council Steve Lydon added his hopes that a solution would be found somewhere down the line.

"I hope that common sense will prevail, and that we can all work together to achieve a long term solution to solve the problems of car parking in Dursley,” he said.

The group agreed to review county and district council owned properties and land within the town, with a view to meeting the longer term aim of improving parking provision.

They agreed to meet to discuss progress in September 2016.

News of the county council’s plans for the car park came to light at the end of April following a multi-agency meeting seeking solutions to parking and traffic issues in Dursley.

It transpired that the district council had been in negotiations with GCC to purchase Castle Street car park, a parking area with 26 spaces and a limit of one hour, used most frequently by people using the town’s high street.

However, despite many town councillors and Stroud district councillors believing the sale was complete, GCC retained ownership of the car park and proposed to reserve 12 spaces for social workers.

A petition bearing the names of more than 500 objectors was delivered to Shire Hall (GCC’s chamber) by Cllr Lydon last month.

Dursley Town Council will have councillors and staff present at the town festival on Saturday, June 25, and will be asking the public to complete a short questionnaire and provide comments on parking and transportation issues within the town centre.