Village proposes webcam to tackle traffic chaos

Winterton is famed for its beauty and lonely expanse of beach of and dunes. Picture: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

The suggestions, made at a meeting of Winterton Parish Council, follow a consultation held by councillors in the summer after complaints about roads frequently clogged by cars taking people to see the seals and the beach.

The issue led last January to the introduction of new rules banning drivers from parking on the northern side of Beach Road, a narrow lane between the dunes, all year round.

Noel Galer, a Great Yarmouth borough councillor who attended the meeting, suggested using a webcam to see how long the queue was at peak times.

Speaking on Monday (September 7), Mr Galer said: “We have webcams elsewhere in the borough. There are a couple on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth.

“I just feel it could be an economical way of allowing people to see what’s happening in Winterton.”

He said there were at least three places in the village - the coastguard hut, the Beach Cafe and the village hall - where the webcam could be placed.

“People thinking of going to Winterton would be able have a look at up-to-date state of the traffic, the number of people queuing and parking. It would be good for this purpose,” he said.

At the meeting on August 26, member of the parish council Nigel Coe said he was pleased that over 150 people, as well as local police, had attended the consultation event.

Minutes also state that cones were mentioned as a way which could alleviate parking on junctions, while a blackboard, provided by the council, could inform people of the car park waiting times.

The village has been plagued in the past with parking issues.

During Christmas 2017 there were chaotic scenes when cars blocked the road and were driven over the pavement onto the dunes.

Earlier this year nails were found on Beach Road, with speculation they had been left there by a “disgruntled villager”.