Changes to car parking in Radstock began on Tuesday, 31st May.
Parking meters installed in two Radstock car parks have been activated as part of a new initiative that will limit the maximum stay in some spaces to four or five hours, while still allowing people to park for free. The Waterloo Road and Church Street car parks will remain free for all users, but it is hoped the new scheme will support local businesses by improving access for shoppers and visitors with a more regular turnover of spaces. New signs have been installed throughout both car parks to alert users to the introduction of the new restrictions – which come into effect firstly at Church Street car park, on 31st May, to coincide with the expansion work which has seen the number of spaces increase by 21 to 89.
The Council will undertake a sensible approach to enforcement to ensure that customers using the car parks after the bank holiday are made aware of the changes. As part of this approach, the Council will be phasing the introduction of the changes across both car parks to ensure that businesses and customers are able to fully familiarise themselves with the new restrictions.
Councillor Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We are committed to supporting the local economy and local businesses, so we are doing all that we can to ensure that shoppers and visitors to Radstock can find a free parking space easily. We have worked closely with local traders to determine the parking needs in Radstock and these new restrictions combined with more free spaces at Church Street Car Park will allow more people to enjoy the town and its businesses with a more regular turnover of spaces.”
The changes are: Church Street, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding bank holidays. Maximum five hour stay on display of a free ticket from a pay and display machine, no return within one hour, free unlimited parking at all other times. Waterloo Road, Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding bank holidays. Maximum four hour stay in green bays on display of a free ticket from a pay and display machine. No return within one hour.