THE results of a public consultation for controversial parking plans in Weston have now been released.

THE results of a public consultation for controversial parking plans in Weston have now been released.

A total of 413 people gave their views on North Somerset Council plans for a controlled parking zone (CPZ) involving a permit parking scheme and parking meters.

The plans were initially put forward as part of the transfer of parking enforcement from the police to the council. But the scheme was put under review by the executive member for highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, last month.

At the time, police described the move as unexpected’ and said parking enforcement will continue within the limitations of the resources at our disposal’.

The headline results, which were released on the council website last week, show that five per cent of respondents were generally positive and seven per cent generally negative about the scheme.

Almost half of those who replied to the questionnaire lived just outside the proposed CPZ.

Many suggested changes to the plans, the most popular being more blue badge bays for disabled drivers.

Other comments showed concern over the current lack of parking enforcement.

A massive 81 per cent of respondents said there should be no extension to the council’s plan to charge for parking in the CPZ from 9am-6pm.

And almost a third believed residents who live inside the CPZ should be allowed to buy more permits for visitors.

Council officers are now looking at new options and will also continue their review of current on-street parking restrictions.

They will investigate the costs of removing unnecessary yellow lines and will take into account comments from the public consultation, including the number of loading bays and the current abuses of the blue badge system called for by local and national disability groups.

Detailed results of the consultation are available at www.n-somerset.gov.uk