Changes made to parking arrangements in Dursley (From Gazette Series)

Changes made to parking arrangements in Dursley

9:30am Monday 15th March 2010

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CHANGES have been made to parking in Dursley after fears were raised by traders that their businesses could be hit if problems weren’t resolved.

Stroud District Council has approved a raft of measures to change parking restrictions in Dursley to coincide with Sainsbury’s opening.

Plans, put together after lengthy consultation, include changing May Lane to a long-stay and extending the waiting time in the swimming pool car park.

Cllr Joe Forbes, cabinet member for community services, said he recognised the plans did not increase parking spaces, which is what traders have asked for.

"It is recognised this plan does not allow for growth in the long term, but options are currently very limited," he said.

Traders have broadly welcomed the changes but still agree further spaces need to be found.

Mandy Woodward, of Wildwood Flower, said: "Making May Lane long stay is a good idea and we did think the permits were going to be a good idea, but actually they are not going to work for many of us.

"They expect us to park at 9am and leave at 5pm but people like me go in and out making deliveries all day so it won’t work."

Mayor of Dursley Jane Ball said it was unfortunately "the best of a bad job" but that it was an ongoing issue that Dursley Town Council would continue to look at.

"We certainly hope these measures will help the town, but we are not sure whether they actually will or not yet," said Cllr Ball.

"There are now more short stay spaces in the town with Sainsbury’s open, so that is good news.

"Once Sainsbury’s has been open for a few months we will be able to assess the situation again and see what we can do then."

May Lane will change from a three-hour restriction to long stay, as it is expected the Long Street car park will close in December this year.

The swimming pool car park in Castle Street will extend its waiting from two hours to three and there will be a limited amount of business permit spaces in there as well.

The Sainsbury’s car park has 115 spaces and can be used by anyone in the town, not just shoppers of the store, for up to two hours.

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