A ROAD in Weston town centre could be turned into a one-way street this summer after North Somerset Council vowed to take a closer look at the proposal.

Businessman Nigel Cullum has asked the authority to turn Palmer Street into a one-way street to help ease congestion and allow more people to visit the town centre.

Now North Somerset Council’s deputy leader and executive member for highways, Elfan Ap Rees, says the authority will start an informal consultation on the idea to see how feasible it is.

The process will include talking to residents of Palmer Street and Hopkins Street, and to High Street businesses that back onto North Street.

If there are no major problems with the scheme, then it could be introduced in August, ahead of the planned introduction of on-street pay and display meters. The scheme could cost as little as �5,000 to implement.

Cllr Ap Rees said: “I think it’s well worth the effort to investigate Mr Cullum’s idea, because as well as resolving the congestion issues it would allow us to increase the number of parking spaces in the area. In fact, one-way traffic would allow us to replace most of the double yellow lines with parking bays, significantly reducing illegal parking problems.”

Mr Cullum, who owns Weston Furniture Warehouse, said: “I am pleased to hear the council is holding an informal consultation on the issue. I’m sure it will also help the police also concentrate their efforts on things other than parking.”