Civic chiefs set to make u-turn on parking restrictions in Winchester suburb (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Civic chiefs set to make u-turn on parking restrictions in Winchester suburb

12:01pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Winchester

CIVIC chiefs look set to make a u-turn on proposed parking restrictions after a backlash from city centre residents and business owners.

In December last year notices went up in Hyde advertising a proposed extension of permit holder-only parking from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Saturday, to 10pm.

But the traffic regulation order now looks set to be scrapped.

Janet Graham, who with Gary Swan runs the King Alfred pub on Saxon Road, said: “We were quite shocked when the sign went up. I do not think there’s ever been a large problem. Some people might not be able to park right outside their house, but that’s it.

“We could accept until 6 o’clock, but until 10pm would have been excessive and there’s no immediate car park nearby and pubs are struggling to keep afloat at the moment.”

The order would have affected roads such as Hyde Street, Saxon Road and a section of Andover Road.

Ward Councillor Dominic Hiscock said: “We were asked by some residents to look at improving the opportunity for them to park in the evening, so we had a look at it to see what the feeling is generally. As far as I know, we’re not going to act. The feeling is that it’s not necessary.”

Traffic Engineer at the city council, Neville Crisp, said the city council received seven letters in support of the changes, but that objections were overwhelming, including 13 individual letters and a petition of around 20 people.

Mr Crisp said: “The order was officially advertised and we had objections to it. We also received a petition, it was just about everybody on those roads affected.”

The notices could still be seen in Hyde on Friday (March 8) and Mr Crisp was unable to say when a formal decision on the order would be made.