Town has problem with "long and short term parking"

Pub licensee says business is being "strangled"

A HUNGERFORD publican told this week how his business is being “strangled” by commuters parking all day in an adjacent plot.

His problem is compounded by an overall lack of both short and long term parking in the town, said Hungerford Mayor Anthony Buckwell.

David Yates, licensee of The Downgate in Park Street, said: “We are in danger of having to close because there's no space in the car park after 9am. People park their cars and catch early trains to London, leaving no space for customers or local people walking their dogs.

“It's literally killing my business. It's being strangled.”

Mr Buckland said: “There is certainly a problem with that car park. I'm told that someone even left their car there for a fortnight and went abroad, so we're certainly sympathetic to Mr Yates' plight.”

However district councillor David Holtby (Con, Hungerford) said there was hope for Mr Yates.

He added: “Legislation is being approved that will allow him to fence it off and have some control over the parking there.

“It will be subject to thrashing out issues over rights of way and so on but, if necessary, I will formally call the matter before committee.”

Meanwhile, the town continues to be treated by some as a ‘park and ride' destination, warned Mr Buckland.

He added: “There is an overall problem in the town and it has been worse since First Great Western introduced charging for the railway car park earlier this year, which has pushed motorists elsewhere.

“It's part of a wider problem as we attract more tourists to the town.”

One possible solution mooted by the town council and Mr Holtby is a ‘drive to drive' scheme in which commuters could pay a reasonable fee to residents who do not use their driveway.

This would have to be a private arrangement between parties because of insurance issues but is one solution being investigated.

Meanwhile High Street resident Fay Catlin, aged 48, said parking was an “absolute nightmare” .

She claimed that there are 130 properties in High Street and 70 pay and display parking places.

She said West Berkshire Council told her that 79 parking permits had been issued, thereby selling tickets under “false pretences.”

Council spokesman Phil Spray replied: “There are parking 124 spaces in Hungerford High Street and we have issued 81 resident parking permits for use in that scheme, so the numbers are in favour of the permit holders.

“Holders of these permits park in the pay and display spaces and in the charging hours of 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday Saturday. While the shops are open it is possible that there can be some competition for parking spaces. However, in any resident parking scheme the demand for parking is highest in the evening and at weekends and at these times the shops are closed, thereby reducing the demand from non-residents and optimising the parking available for permit holders.”

He added: “At times of peak demand the council will allow permit holders who cannot find a parking space to use the Station Road car park. The council has not received any other complaints from permit holders in this scheme.”