GREAT Yarmouth could get another two permit parking zones if the local Labour group has its way. A four-month investigation by Labour councillors has revealed residents living in the immediate area around the town centre and areas close to the seafront are having trouble parking close to their homes.

GREAT Yarmouth could get another two permit parking zones if the local Labour group has its way.

A four-month investigation by Labour councillors has revealed residents living in the immediate area around the town centre and areas close to the seafront are having trouble parking close to their homes.

The survey revealed that two-thirds of people would be prepared to pay for permit parking with about three quarters of people questioned admitting to experiencing difficulties when trying to park outside their homes.

A permit scheme already operates in central and seafront areas of the town bordered by Marine Parade, St Nicholas Road, Alexandra Road and St Peter's Road. The scheme was introduced in February last year and received a barrage of criticism from some residents and traders in the town.

They claimed free spaces used by visitors during the day had been lost because of the scheme and that it was having a detrimental affect on trade.

However, this week deputy leader of the Labour group Mick Castle said the group understood the need to provide free spaces for workers in the town while giving residents the chance to park outside their homes.

He said: “We are also aware that shop workers and office workers to need parking so we are also asking the borough and county councils to consider designating cheap season tickets for people who work in the town.”

He added: “There isn't a problem with pay and display parking in Yarmouth, there is a problem with free parking. After learning lessons from the current scheme we have we would ensure that there were all-purpose spaces so that residents could park close to their homes while shoppers could park for a limited amount of time and pop into town.”

Labour councillors completed a survey before Christmas and found widespread support for the introduction of schemes in areas such as George Street and Alderson Road. Another survey carried out earlier this year revealed that residents living south of St Peter's Road were also experiencing problems.

The Labour group will propose that roads adjacent to the town centre and the seafront area between St Peter's Road and King Road become resident parking zones at the meeting of the county council's Yarmouth area committee on Monday, May 16.

Meanwhile, Middlegate Community Association will host a meeting at Yarmouth library on May 13 at 1pm in light of increasing parking problems in that area.

Association secretary Jamie McGarrity said: “Roadsides are constantly full of cars of workers, shoppers and visitors. Residents can rarely park their car within an acceptable walking distance of home.”

The borough council's parking services manager Michael Chillingworth said while they were no plans to introduce more permit parking it was an option. He added residents would be consulted before any scheme was given the go-ahead.

For more information on the Middlegate meeting contact Jamie at the Comeunity Neighbourhood Centre, 143 King Street, or call 01493 845920.