New parking system for town

A NEW parking guidance system will be introduced in Weston this summer.

The electronic signposts will show drivers available spaces in the town centre and seafront car parks.

The first signs will be positioned in Herluin Way, advising drivers of the beach and town centre car parks, with variable ones in Station Road and on the seafront telling drivers of spaces in the nearest car parks.

Systems like this are common in many towns and cities across the country.

Installing the system in Weston will cost about £227,500, which will come from developer contributions for the Dolphin Square regeneration currently taking place, as well as funding from the Government and contributions from both the Sovereign Shopping Centre and National Car Parks (NCP).

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council executive member for highways, said: “This is another step towards improving the town centre business economy.

“We need to do all we can to encourage drivers to use the off-street car parks and to guide visitors to the available spaces.

“This will then free up on-street spaces for short-term shopper parking, as well as reducing carbon emissions from constant traffic circulation looking for parking places.”

Following a competitive tendering process Siemens PLC has been selected to undertake the work which it is hoped can be completed to coincide with the completion of the new Carlton Street multi-storey car park at the end of July.

The car park is part of the ongoing commercial and leisure development of Dolphin Square in Weston by developer McLaren Life, which is also due to include a cinema, bowling alley and big name shops and restaurants.