Dear Sir

Thank you for giving myself and other correspondents the opportunity to ask the CDC planners to reconsider their ideas for a multi-storey car park.

I note that correspondents have raised the possibility of a “park and stride”, and also that the planners have argued against “park and ride” on environmental grounds.

My understanding is that parking in Cirencester is under pressure both from the welcome influx of workers from outside the town, and from the needs of current and future residents.

I have no wish to dismiss “park and stride” – it is an idea that has many merits, assuming that an appropriate location can be found.

However, at the very least, it fails to address the needs of the elderly and disabled, except in moving the parking for those able to “stride” to a different location.

Intuitively, while I wish it were different, it seems to me that many car users will be reluctant to walk more than a few minutes.

Already it is much easier to find empty places at Beeches Road car park than closer to the centre.

I would be interested to know if there are successful schemes elsewhere.

I am very concerned about the contention that a car park that is further from Cirencester will increase the environmental impact.

Air pollution, as we all know, is complex, involving CO2, NO2, particulate emissions and other pollutants.

Its effects are more severe when held in a confined space.

I cannot understand how pollution from congested traffic accessing a multi-storey car park in the Waterloo would not rapidly and repeatedly exceed pollution limits.

However, a properly designed and located car park in a more open area would allow a free flow of vehicles in and out of the parking, with trees planted to absorb many of the pollutants which become concentrated within that area.

If the cars using the car park are predominantly those already coming from a distance, then it is possible that there will not even be an increase in their total mileage.

The occupants can then be driven into town in an electric or hydrogen bus.

It is difficult to see how the building and use of a multi-storey car park could be more environmentally friendly.

Yours sincerely

C J Goldie

Cirencester