Help to find parking places

A new parking guidance system which will show drivers available spaces in Weston-super-Mare town centre and seafront car parks is to be introduced later this summer.

Roadside vehicle messaging systems at key locations on the routes into the town will show available parking spaces in the car parks. They will help drivers to find available spaces more effectively and minimise the circulation of traffic on the roads.

The first advance signs will be positioned on Herluin Way, advising drivers of the beach and town centre car parks with variable message signs on Station Road and on the seafront telling drivers of spaces in the nearest car parks. Systems like this are common in many towns and cities across the country.

Installing the system in Weston will cost around £227,500, and this will come from developer contributions for the Dolphin Square development currently taking place, as well as funding from the government's Joint Local Transport Fund and contributions from both the Sovereign Centre and National Car Parks.

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, executive member for highways, said: "This is another step towards improving the town centre business economy by reducing traffic flows and congestion.

"We need to do all we can to encourage drivers to use the off street car parks and to guide visitors to the available spaces. This will then free up on-street spaces for short-term shopper parking as well as reducing carbon emissions from constant traffic circulation looking for parking places."

Following a competitive tendering process Siemens PLC has been selected to carry out the work which it is hoped can be completed to coincide with the completion of the new Carlton Street multi-storey car park at the end of July.