AFTER misreporting new parking plans two weeks ago, the Standard is happy to now set the record straight.

Problem parking on one of the most frequently used roads in Cirencester town centre could be relieved as part of new plans to ease parking in town.

The Cirencester Parking Partnership (CPP), which is made up of officials from the county, district and town councils and the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce, has put forward plans to replace Castle Street’s single yellow line with a pay and display parking bay.

It is hoped that the machines will make parking in the notoriously busy street more accessible and convenient.

Cllr Geoffrey Adams, a member of CPP, told the Standard that the proposals have been designed with shoppers in mind.

“People park in Castle Street and are then constantly worried about being given a ticket by a traffic warden for not returning to their car in time. These pay and display machines will give shoppers the amount of time they want for the money they pay in,” he said.

Following a previous story that ran in the Standard, a spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council confirmed that free parking in Dyer Street will not be affected.

The Standard visited Castle Street earlier this week to discover what local businesses made of the proposals.

Sophie Berry, manager of the Nail Salon, said the new machines would benefit customers who want to enjoy a treatment.

She said: “The people who come to us are usually here for more than four or five minutes so it would help them. I think it would also help people who struggle to find a parking space nearby.”

Maxine Duncan, who runs the Aga Shop, explained that she had lost business because of people having to rush back to their cars.

“People are only willing to be away from their cars for five minutes, that attitude cost me a £10,000 sale the other day. In that respect, I think it would be good for our customers,” she said.

While Bec Minett, of clothing store White Stuff, admitted it would be good for Castle Street, she raised concerns about how practical it would be for lorries that have to park on the road to make deliveries.

Commenting on this, Cllr Adams said: “I don’t know the full details, but I would imagine that, before 10am, the lorries would be able to park outside and make their deliveries as they do now.”

Under the proposals, pay and display machines would also be placed in residential streets to encourage motorists to make the most of the town’s car parks.

Cllr Vernon Smith, GCC cabinet member for highways and flood, said: “This is a significant partnership review, which residents have asked for and which aims to find a way of giving them more choice while freeing up other streets and reducing congestion across Cirencester.”

The consultation period runs until Friday, March 28. To view the plans, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/parking and click on parking consultations.