PARKING at three leisure centres in North Somerset will remain free despite residents fears charges would be introduced

PARKING at three leisure centres in North Somerset will remain free despite residents' fears charges would be introduced.

North Somerset Council has placed notices at car parks throughout the district so it can enforce any breaches of its parking regulations, such as people sleeping in car parks overnight.

However, some residents interpreted the notices, relating to a parking order, as an indication that charges would be introduced according to the authority's executive member for highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees.

He said: "Because signs have been put in car parking sites some people have been under the misapprehension that a parking order means that we are introducing charges. This is not the case.

"We are not introducing charges to those car parks that do not currently charge.

"The order is put in place so that we can manage our car parks more effectively and enforce the regulations, for example by encouraging safer parking, discouraging antisocial behaviour and other improper uses of a car park."

Car parks at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston, Parish Wharf in Portishead and Scotch Horn Centre in Nailsea will not ask for cash from people using their facilities.

Car parks at Marsons Road in Clevedon, Roath Roath and Nore Road in Portishead and Locking Road in Weston, have also been included in the order, with no introduction of parking fees.

A review and public consultation of a parking order has just been carried out and is set to be approved by Cllr Ap Rees.

All other proposals set out in the parking order for 2008 are set to be adopted and advertised. The order will become effective from April 1.