BUSINESS leaders in Sidmouth have called for a park-and-ride at Knowle and have urged highways chiefs to forget about town-centre pedestrianisation and parking meters.
A record turnout for a Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Wednesday saw 54 members gather for a debate on the town’s traffic and parking issues.
The meeting was also called to help develop a formal response to a district council review of its off-street car parks before a deadline on Monday.
Traders filled out questionnaires in a bid to form a clear statement of business opinion on a range of transport and traffic issues.
“This is the first survey of its kind and is definitive,” said chamber chairman Richard Eley.
“The good turn-out gives the results considerable credibility.”
Results of the survey revealed:
l 94per cent of polled chamber members were against the introduction of parking meters in the town centre.
l 90per cent were in favour of extending the maximum stay period in the Ham and Roxburgh car parks from three to four hours.
l 83per cent were against any further increase in pedestrianisation.
l 67per cent were in favour of changing High Street, from All Saints Road to the Co-op, to a one-way system.
Opinion was divided over restricting parking times on the Esplanade to two hours, with 52per cent favouring a change from the present unrestricted regime, and 48per cent preferring a retention of the status quo.
The most suitable location for a park-and-ride facility sparked debate. A mooted relocation of the district council to Honiton saw Knowle named as the choice of 45per cent of those asked.
Twenty-three per cent opted for the existing Manor Road car park and 18per cent chose a location near Stevens Cross and the Blue Ball.
Only 14per cent chose a site at the junction of Woolbrook Road and the A3052 - identified as a possible park-and-change facility by the county council.
The chamber called for the district council to lower parking charges. A suggestion to make the Manor Road car facility free from November to February proved popular among members.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here