Patrol keeps carpark clear

People say they have nowhere to park after swarden were brought in to monitor a former pub carpark previously open to the public.

The Turk’s Head, Balderton, was bought by Newman Watters veterinary practice and is being converted into a vets’ surgery.

When the pub was open its carpark was open to the public but with work well under way on the conversion, the new owners say it is no longer practical for people to park there.

Signs went up on Monday warning people they would be fined if they parked in the carpark, which is now patrolled by NCP.

Residents of Main Street, Balderton, who attended a meeting of Balderton Parish Council amenities committee on Wednesday, said they now had nowhere to park.

Barbara Taylor, of Main Street, said she had been issued with a £90 fine after using the carpark.

“There are a lot of people on my street who have not got parking at the back of their premises and can’t park outside because there are double yellow lines,” she said.

“There are also a lot of old people in Balderton who rely on going in to that carpark when they go to the post office and all of a sudden they are going to be issued with fines if they use it.”

The committee chairman, Mr Ray Hind, said there was little the council could do because the carpark was private property.

Mr Hind was concerned that businesses might suffer if people could not use the carpark when shopping in the village.

Mrs Lydia Hurst thought the best way forward would be to negotiate with the vets to see if they would allow some parking.

She said: “At the end of the day it is private property and if they decide they’re going to put a big gate up and stop anyone going on there there is nothing we can do about it.”

Members agreed that Newark and Sherwood district councillor, Mr Keith Walker, should ask the vets if a compromise could be reached.

A partner at Newman Watters, Mr Jonathan Newman, said they could no longer let people park there because cars were obstructing builders trying to access the site.

He said: “We bought the premises in March and we let people park there only because we weren’t using the site.

“We are aware it is a difficult situation with local residents and local businesses and we did want to be supportive.

“The builders have gone to pick up material and come back to off-load it and found they can’t get access to the carpark.

“We hoped that people would be parking in areas away from the building and areas that don’t cause problems, but they haven’t been.”

Mr Newman said that builders were going to begin work installing drains in the carpark and they could not do so if it was in use.