THE continued parking problems caused by contractors working on Watchet’s new East Quay development are getting worse and driving visitors away from the town, angry traders claimed this week.

They say that up to 30 tradesmen a day are taking up spaces on the town centre Harbour Road car park instead of using parking they have been allocated on the former paper mill site.

“The situation has greatly deteriorated over the last few weeks, with the main contractor, Midas Construction, refusing all attempts at contact and showing a cavalier attitude to the town,” said John Richards, chairman of Watchet chamber of trade (WACET).

“The situation in Harbour Road is getting worse, with heavy delivery vehicles illegally parked across dropped kerbs and on yellow lines and causing issues with those with rights of way across the nearby Esplanade by blocking access to it.”

Mr Richards said that the situation had become so serious that WACET plans to put up banners at the entrance to Harbour Road directing contractors’ vehicles to the overflow car park.

He added: “We represent 82 businesses here and nearly all are affected by the inconsiderate and awful attitude this company [Midas] has.”

In a letter of protest to the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme, of which Midas is a member, WACET wrote: “After Covid, the shops are trying to get more business and the chamber has invested £20,000 in making the town more inviting.

“Yet at least 30 vehicles a day are being forced to drive away without visiting because the contractors have been totally inconsiderate in using up all the parking spaces, even bringing out small tables from their vans and eating lunch in the car park.

“When the project started last year, Midas were given strict working hours and made an agreement in public with the town that their contractors and sub-contractors would be forbidden from parking in the town’s small car park.

“Discussions with the site manager have been to no avail and they are constantly breaking their agreement over these vehicles.”

Mr Richards told the Free Press that the other major contractor in the town, TMS Maritime Ltd, which is repairing the marina walls, has now assured him that company vehicles park on the East Wharf and not on any of the town’s car parks. He had received no response from Midas.

He added: “To be fair, Midas have paid for car parking at the paper mill site and some contractors do use that facility. Others don’t because they say that walking along the busy Brendon Road breaches health and safety.”

As reported in last week’s Free Press, posts from holiday-makers on social media said they had found car parks full of vans and commercial vehicles and after waiting vainly for a vacant space had given up and driven away.

This week, the Onion Collective, which employs Midas on the £7 million development, due to open next month, told the Free Press: “The issue of Harbour Road parking is one we have been working hard to resolve and we apologise for any inconvenience.

“There are around 70 builders working on East Quay on any given day, and naturally this includes many vehicles coming to Watchet needing parking. The substantial majority of contractors are following the request and are parking away from the town centre, near the mill site as per the arrangement between Midas and OC.  

“Unfortunately, there are still some contractors who are parking in Harbour Road and we will continue to work with Midas to prevent this from happening. We are, of course, unable to force anyone to park where we would like, as we do not have the legislative authority.

“We have spoken many times with Midas and made clear our concerns and those of the town, who in turn are working hard to try to ensure their contractors are not parking in Harbour Road 

“We can only apologise that not everyone is complying but this is not because all parties are not doing their best to ensure minimum impact. We continue to monitor the situation, counting and understanding who is parking in the car park.

“On Thursday August 12 we checked the vehicles in Harbour Road Car Park against our contractors, identifying approximately six to ten vehicles that might belong to contractors on site, who have again been spoken with.

“There are a number of TMS contractors parking in Harbour Road – these are working on the council’s marina wall works and not related to the OC build.

“There are many and varied users of the Harbour Road Car Park at any given time. We continue to monitor the situation and to request that contractors at East Quay be mindful and respectful by not parking in Harbour Road.”