A PURGE of flat site parking in Great Yarmouth centre, allowing new multi-storey car parks and larger shops while bringing in new business and helping residents is the vision of the councillor responsible for borough regeneration.

A PURGE of flat site parking in Great Yarmouth centre, allowing new multi-storey car parks and larger shops while bringing in new business and helping residents is the vision of the councillor responsible for borough regeneration.

He wants to see the town's parking facilities, which he described as “designed by the Luftwaffe”, brought into the 21st century.

Graham Plant, whose responsibilities cover economic regeneration, said that spaces like the King Street and Palmers car parks were not making full use of the land they were on because they were remnants of second world war bombing.

He said one possible area for a multi-storey development could be the site currently occupied by the police station on Howard Street in The Conge area, which is planned to move by 2012, but added that archaeological digs would have to be carried out before anything could go ahead.

“At the moment we have lots of small shops and small shop spaces in the town centre. Retailers are looking for larger footprints, and by identifying certain areas, like some car parks, we could offer that.”

Currently, the borough council is using a �52,000 grant given by central government to carry out an assessment of the shopping facilities available in the centre of town.

“A number of the current car parks are a waste of space, and you can solve the problem of car parking and make space for these bigger retail outlets by introducing multi-storey car parks.

“However, we're trying to develop the retail aspect so we can develop the parking, which we can't do at the moment because the multi storeys would be empty for quite a large part of the year.

“A part of that is freeing up land for more retail, and it links in with current planned developments along the riverfront.”

This refers to work planned for North Quay, Bure Harbour Quay and Ice House Quay by urban regeneration company 1st East, of which Mr Plant is a board member. There are plans for hundreds of homes and shops and offices in these areas and work is planned within the next three years.

There are also hopes to add The Conge area, which is regarded by Mr Plant as providing a vital corridor into and from the town, to the development project within the next two years.

Town Centre Manager Jonathan Newman said: “It's good he is having these thoughts, and if bigger and higher profile retailers could be attracted into the area without losing car parking space then I think it's a brilliant idea.

“The Conge is ripe for that sort of development because it would provide a link between the development area and the town centre.

“However, these are wish lists, and we've got the find the development and investment to make these ideas a reality.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Write to Letters, The Mercury, 169 King Street, Great Yarmouth NR30 2PA or email anne.edwards@archant.co.uk