SIDMOUTH S county councillor wants Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce to produce a green travel plan. Councillor Stuart Hughes suggested this after being quizzed over a decision to ban daytime parking in Manor Road all year round.

SIDMOUTH'S county councillor wants Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce to produce a green travel plan.

Councillor Stuart Hughes suggested this after being quizzed over a decision to ban daytime parking in Manor Road all year round.

At Monday's Sidmouth Town Council meeting, Councillor Ann Liverton asked him whether rules had been altered that stated all consultees, including town council, police, and highways, had to agree to such changes.

"If it has, what is the point of the town council being consulted," she asked.

"Also, has he consulted with the Chamber of Commerce, who are always concerned with the lack of parking in Sidmouth and does he set any store by the fact that this council, which he now vice-chairs, has consistently opposed any further parking restrictions unless alternatives are provided?"

In April, the town council opposed all year round restrictions in Manor Road, due, said Mrs Liverton "to the adverse effect on employee parking during the dark winter months, when it is not pleasant or safe to walk further than necessary."

Despite assurances from Mr Hughes further discussions would be delayed until September because of the council's opposition, East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee, which he chairs, decided in July to press ahead with the order.

In response, Mr Hughes said town councillors first discussed the Manor Road traffic order variation in March 2007, and favoured a ban on parking on the southern side of the road.

He said: "Following that meeting the residents of Manor Road made further representations to county regarding the northern side of the road, requesting that the restriction that is currently in place - no waiting 10.00am - 6.00pm from May until October - be continued throughout the year."

At July's East Devon HATOC meeting, Tony Matthews, area engineer east, said there had been extensive consultations with residents and the town council.

"It was eventually proposed that the best way to resolve the problems in this road would be to extend the daytime restriction to apply all year round," said Mr Hughes.

This would prevent obstructive daytime parking, allowing coaches easier access to the coach park.

Manor Road car park is under-used in winter and he thought consideration should be given (by EDDC) to offer concessionary permit parking for winter-time commuters.

"The Traffic Management Round Table, which I initiated to look at an overall traffic plan for the town, including Park and Ride and pedestrianisation, also includes members of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Large firms are requested to look at drawing up and implementing Green Travel Plans to help ease congestion and these also help address many of the issues raised in residents calling for Traffic Orders.

"I should like to see Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce come up with its own Green Travel Plan, which would be ground breaking and which could run in tandem with the work of the round table and could be extremely effective in helping solve many of our parking problems in hot spot areas.