Cars spoil smarter streets

Shopkeepers say parking enforcement is needed if work to improve several town centre streets is to prove worthwhile.

Nottinghamshire County Council originally budgeted £700,000 for the work on Middlegate, Stodman Street and Kirkgate, Newark.

However, complications from floods, and an increase in the amount of foundation work needed on Middlegate, has meant the project cost rose to around £1m.

The work, which finished on Sunday, took almost a year, although it should have finished in July.

Delivery vehicles, taxi drivers, motorists and pedestrians had to put up with delays and diversions, and some traders complained that the work hit profits.

Work included pavement widening, the creation of parking bays for the disabled, and lowered kerbs at crossing points and junctions.

New seating, litter bins and cycle and motorbike racks have also been provided.

The work was intended to tackle the problem of many vehicles parking illegally on the streets, causing traffic jams.

The owner of Kodak Express on Middlegate, Mr David Gates (37) said: “The work looks very good and it is now a lot better for shoppers.

“However, when you get a delivery, it blocks the whole road. The design of the bays is pretty bad.”

The manager of The Fone Doctor on Kirkgate, Miss Josie Gatus, said: “People are parking in disabled parking bays and they are clearly not disabled.

“A white van parked opposite my shop the other day and was there all day. What is the point of all this if the police are not going to hand out tickets?”

A Newark county councillor, Mr Keith Girling, said: “They have done an outstanding job on these roads, especially in such a short time period, and in some horrible weather conditions.

“Those people complaining the road is too narrow are the same people who complained the pavements were too narrow before.

“I do not care about whether it is difficult for cars to get down there.

“It was done for the benefit of pedestrians who are now milling about and looking in shops, rather than looking down at their feet on the pavements so they do not trip over, or dodging cars.”

A county council spokesman said: “Vehicle access to the area remains unchanged, but all on-street parking is now restricted during the day to disabled users’ vehicles, loading and taxis.

“After 6pm and on Sundays, a limited number of spaces will be available for free on-street parking.”