Plan to scrap free parking in much of Tewkesbury abandoned

A plan to scrap free daytime parking in much of Tewkesbury has been abandoned, Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed.

The authority proposed last month to install on-street pay and display and permit parking in the town centre in a review.

However it said today it has now u-turned on the consultation.

The proposal was faced with opposition by residents and the town council over the parking permit zones being introduced, similar to those in central areas of Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Councillor Kevin Cromwell (C, Tewkesbury South) said on Tewkesbury town mayor’s Facebook page it is ‘great news’.

He said: “Residents and businesses were clear about their concerns, which I again set out at a second meeting with parking officers at Shire Hall.

“Tewkesbury people made clear and well-argued points about both the proposals, and the consultation – and those concerns were listened to carefully. As a result, councillor David Norman has announced the consultation has been abandoned.

“This is great news and exactly what we’ve all been asking for.”

If the county council’s plans for Tewkesbury had gone ahead, the current limited-time free parking in most of the High Street would go, replaced by pay and display machines.

The same would have happened in Back of Avon, Quay Street, Sun Street, Church Street and Barton Street.

Free parking in East Street, Nelson Street and Oldbury Road would also have been replaced by pay and display and a permit holders’ system.

Most of the restrictions would have applied from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.