Hednesford parking limit doubled to boost trade

They approved the extension to the limit in Market Street, Hednesford. Double yellow lines will also be removed and replaced with a 20-minute on-street parking limit outside a Post

Office sorting base in Beecroft Road, Cannock, after complaints were made about a lack of parking.

The decisions were made during a Cannock Chase joint parking committee meeting last night. It was also revealed there were 1,822 penalty notices issued between April and June – a rise of 230, or 14 per cent, compared to the same period last year. Just over 330 of tickets issued this year, accounting for 18 per cent, were cancelled.

The proposed changes in parking restrictions for Market Street, Hednesford, are due to come into force by Christmas. Currently, drivers are restricted to park for 20 minutes but this will increase to 40 minutes.

A consultation was held with traders,with 35 out of 54 of those who responded calling for a 40-minute parking limit and 19 welcoming an hour-long stay.

Council leader George Adamson said: "Twenty minutes is far too short, especially for the elderly or disabled. We want to encourage trade in Market Street as well."

He also suggested that there should be a 20-minute parking limit introduced outside the Beecroft Road Post Office sorting office.

Mark Keeling, Staffordshire County Council community infrastructure liaison manager, said: "The Post Office is quite busy. We have had a request from a gentleman who said there should be parking available adjacent to the postbox to allow collection of parcels."

A report to the committee said the Post Office had placed a barrier on its car park to stop customers from entering to collect parcels from the sorting office and the public had raised concerns over a lack of parking available. Double yellow lines outside the site will be replaced with parking bays.