Addressing the Council’s December meeting, chairman Les Paterson said an informal survey of the parking situation carried out mid-morning on weekdays had revealed that the Market Place, where parking is restricted to 90 minutes in the main square, generally had “plenty of spaces available”.
 
However, the Station Road car park, which is currently unrestricted, is largely full most days of the week, with most space taken up by workers from the town’s shops and businesses, as well as long-term parking of vehicles by some residents.
 
Councillors admitted that parking on Wednesday mornings, when the weekly market is held, is the main issue. However, they noted that any changes in the current arrangements would push the problem somewhere else, such as side-roads, adding that alterations to parking restrictions would cost a minimum of £5,000.
 
Despite concerns by some residents and shopkeepers that a lack of parking is driving customers away, the Town Council voted to take no further action on this issue, but said the situation will be reviewed in nine months’ time.
 
This recent shopping survey carried out by the Reepham Chamber of Commerce indicated that more than 70% of respondents felt that parking can sometimes be a problem and, of those, 10% found it “difficult to park”.
 
Parking was also the factor most frequently selected as the one thing that discouraged respondents from shopping in the town. However, a significant percentage – more than 20% – said parking in Reepham is easy.
 
It is understood that Broadland District Council had offered to pay for a report from a parking and traffic consultant, but stressed that the Town Council would have to accept any recommendations from such a survey.
 
Other suggestions have included enforcing a two-hour limit on parking in the Station Road car park and encouraging town-centre workers and residents without garages to use the main car park at Stimpson’s Piece – a five-minute walk away from the Market Place. This could free up existing space for shoppers, who generally spend up to an hour shopping, the recent shopping survey revealed.
 
Creating a new car park next to the doctors’ surgery in Smuggler’s Lane has also been suggested as part of the solution.
 
What do you think? Is parking a major problem in Reepham? Contact us or email: letters@reephamlife.co.uk