New Common parking sign to be amended

Aim to prevent all-day parking by commuters

MOTORISTS using the Down View Gate car park at the entrance to Hungerford Common will now face an £80 charge for overstaying.

The move is designed to prevent commuters using it as a free, day- long facility.

The current signs allow two hours’ free parking, with no return within one hour.

But the licensee of the adjacent Downgate pub, David Yates, complained to the Town and Manor of Hungerford, which looks after the land and installed the signs.

He said: “This will affect my trade because customers often park, walk over the common to Kintbury or Bedwyn and then stop back here for a home cooked meal.

“Actually, we had a group of 15 ramblers the other week who did just that, just before the signs went up. They won’t be able to do that within two hours.”

His concerns prompted a visit from the Constable of the Town and Manor, Susan Hofgartner.

Afterwards, she said: “David’s concerns seemed eminently reasonable and so we’re going to act on them.

“This is not some money-making scheme and it won’t be operated as such. It’s simply to stop people using it as a free, day long car park while they commute to work. That’s not what it’s for – it’s supposed to be for users of the common.”

Therefore, she said, “we have agreed to allow four hours’ free parking, with no return within three hours”.

Mrs Hofgartner added: “We’re not trying to generate money here, just deter people from abusing it. So the first time someone is caught, they will get a warning ticket, in case they did not read the signs properly or they simply forgot.

“Also, if anyone breaks down or has a reasonable excuse, whatever that might be, we would urge them to get in touch with us and we will be happy to discuss it.”

She said the Town and Manor would not be employing an outside agency to police the car park and enforce the charges.