Let's all talk about car parking

It’s good to see busy villages all over the Chew Valley, with residents and visitors making use of the local facilities, shopping or relaxing and enjoying the range of refreshments on offer. They are a strong sign that our local economy is thriving, which is good news for the whole community.

Despite some improved bus services, it is a rural area so the majority of people will be using their cars to get around. It’s vital for businesses that their customers can access their services and find it easy to park their vehicles, otherwise they will go elsewhere.

It’s a significant issue for every village, but most noticeable in Chew Magna. The Chamber of Commerce has raised this topic in the past as our members have been concerned about the need to find a site for a new car park to take pressure off the existing capacity. One suggestion was that any second car park could be for staff, so they don’t have to take up valuable spaces used by customers.

Other proposals have included imposing strict time limits in order to ensure cars don’t park all day, but that would come at a cost and would create its own problems.

The obvious difficulty is where any new car park would go ? Chamber members are not going to start suggesting specific sites, but they do think it’s such an important issue that it’s worthy of a broader discussion. Doubtless the Parish Council will have ideas and our local District Councillors will have their own views which could be raised with the West of England Combined Authority. If businesses and residents also get involved in the conversation we might be able to come up with a plan which suits everyone.