CIRENCESTER’S on-street parking problems have been getting worse for years, affecting public transport. 

Both Pulhams and National Express have problems in Dyer Street, whilst Stagecoach no longer uses Somerford Road – all due to obstruction by badly parked vehicles. 

Our three-tier system of ‘pass the parcel’ – local government, town, district and county, is an excuse for inaction. 

Much more affordable off-street car parking, together with lorry unloading bays is required, together with strict enforcement of double yellow line prohibitions. 

The 2010 Cotswold District Council (CDC) Core Strategy anticipated the continued growth of Cirencester, but what has CDC done since then to solve the parking problems? 

On the contrary, CDC has given planning permission for the expansion of both Cirencester College and St James Place without the requirement on them to cater for the increased number of cars parked all day.  

Clearly, the CDC Local Plan including another 2,350 houses at Chesterton cannot proceed unless sufficient town centre parking to cater for the existing deficit and the thousands of new residents is found. 

An alternative is park and ride facilities together with far better bus services for the town.

One aspect of the problem is the negative attitude of CDC towards Cirencester, the largest town by far. 

Existing cabinet members all live far from Cirencester, but with their reserved parking at CDC headquarters do not experience the same problems as residents, businesses and visitors. 

A new cabinet with Cirencester representatives is required; this would be a coalition but this has worked well in Stroud District which had its Local Plan approved last year.   

JOHN NICHOLAS
Cirencester