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New parking scheme ‘a disaster’
CHANGES to Dorchester's Top o' Town car park have been branded a disaster.
Ashley Rawlings, a town centre estate agent director, said that additional coach spaces created for Wednesday market days were not being filled.
He claimed that the car park shake-up - more short stay and coach spaces but fewer long stay spaces - was causing a headache for parking permit holders.
Mr Rawlings, who lives in the Piddle Valley, said: "I have to come and go in my car during the day.
"Often when you leave your parking space there isn't one when you return and this problem has been exacerbated tenfold on Wednesdays."
Mr Rawlings said: "I have nothing against the coach drivers but they read their paper and have a sandwich and in the meantime we are backwards and forwards trying to get a space.
"I am sure there are other people experiencing the same problem.
"Why don't the coach drivers drop passengers off at the market and park out of town?"
The Dorchester car park opened on June 17 after a month of major refurbishment.
The revamp provides 20 extra spaces for coaches on Wednesday market days and 30 additional short-stay spaces. But it has resulted in a loss of some long-stay spaces.
Work also included resurfacing and relining as well as improvements to drainage and lighting in the car park.
Mr Rawlings criticised West Dorset District Council for badly thought out plans.
He said: "They have over-allocated space to coaches.
"Wednesday was a disaster and the poor parking attendant was getting grief."
Mr Rawlings added that his long-stay parking permit had recently increased from around £300 per year to about double that.
A West Dorset District Council spokesman said: "The Top o' Town car park has been improved to increase levels of lighting, short-stay parking and extra parking for coaches on a Wednesday.
"This has resulted in a loss of long-stay spaces especially on Wednesday market days, but we would advise people to use the park and ride scheme, which has been operating successfully on market days for over 10 years and on a daily basis for more than a year.
"The improvements to the Top o' Town car park are part of a long term parking plan which was approved following a consultation exercise."
9:55am Friday 4th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Albo, Wyke Regis on 10:29am Fri 4 Jul 08
Rather over-egging it, aren't we?
The China earthquake or the Myanmar cyclone are disasters.
Not being able to find a parking space on a Wednesday is a mild inconvenience.
Rather over-egging it, aren't we?
The China earthquake or the Myanmar cyclone are disasters.
Not being able to find a parking space on a Wednesday is a mild inconvenience.
Posted by: genghis, portland on 5:49pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Albo[/bold] wrote:
Rather over-egging it, aren't we? The China earthquake or the Myanmar cyclone are disasters. Not being able to find a parking space on a Wednesday is a mild inconvenience.[/quote] Perspective right? It works everytime.
Albo wrote:
Rather over-egging it, aren't we? The China earthquake or the Myanmar cyclone are disasters. Not being able to find a parking space on a Wednesday is a mild inconvenience.
Perspective right? It works everytime.
Posted by: Dorset Guy, Bridport on 5:52pm Fri 4 Jul 08
So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?
So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?
Posted by: CoogarUK, Dorchester on 6:15pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Dorset Guy[/bold] wrote:
So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?[/quote] Decent, hugely popular market?
Dorset Guy wrote:
So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?
Decent, hugely popular market?
Posted by: Dorset Guy, Bridport on 7:26pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]CoogarUK[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Dorset Guy[/bold] wrote: So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?[/quote] Decent, hugely popular market?[/quote] Bridport market's twice a week!
CoogarUK wrote:
Dorset Guy wrote: So how come Dorchester gets more coach parking while Bridport plans are for less ?
Decent, hugely popular market?
Bridport market's twice a week!
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 10:01pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Perhaps the £80,000 income estimated for County Hall pay & display will come true after all !
Perhaps the £80,000 income estimated for County Hall pay & display will come true after all !
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