BUSINESSES around The Square in Wiveliscombe are being consulted on proposals to make changes and restrictions to parking there, as local residents complained recently once more about the problems.

Residents were angry last weekend when they described on Facebook “the chaos in the Square…was the worst I’ve ever seen…an ambulance couldn’t get through” and “it is so selfish and getting out of hand…(cars) parked on both sides of the road on the double yellow lines”, “no consideration for the disabled ramps, they just park right across them.”

Cllr Dave Mansell, Upper Tone Division, Somerset Council, which includes Wiveliscombe, told the Free Press there were a number of parking issues, including more cars on the road, a lack of parking for residents, additional houses in the town, and The Square was one problem area.

“People are increasingly parking up to the corners outside the Co-op and it reduces visibility, and they are causing problems for those on mobility scooters or with pushchairs, by parking over dropped kerbs.”

He said local councillors had been discussing how to deal with the problems, and he was half way through consulting businesses around the square on proposals ranging from making it easier to issue tickets, to allowing a limited amount of parking where there are some existing yellow lines in the middle of the problem area.

“It is still a work in progress,” he said.

“What makes it harder is there are two groups (of residents) with completely opposing views. People want access and we need to find the best way, but this is an old town, and perfection is not possible.”

The problems are set against a backdrop of charging due to come into force in the future for the currently free car parks in the town, once Somerset Council completes a review and surveys on parking across the county.

Charging had been due to come into force in October last year, but was paused after the council decided to do a review and surveys throughout Somerset, and locally Cllr Mansell, Cllr Gwil Wren and others drew attention to the problems this would cause for residents who have no parking outside their homes.

“Again, we have got to find the right balance that works for residents and visitors, it is an ongoing process and has been going slower, but it is pushing ahead.”

He said the regional surveys had looked into on-street parking, car parks, what drivers use their journeys for, and more, and the results would be going before the executive committee in September.

Proposals would be drawn up and there would then be local consultations after that, he said.

While the council is committed to introducing charges, he said local councillors had worked very hard to draw attention to the difficulties in Wiveliscombe.

“There could be different tiers of charges and we do not know what will emerge yet, or where we fall. We will have to wait for what comes out from the wider review.”