HIGHWAYS chiefs may be forced to go back to the drawing board over controversial plans to impose parking restrictions in Harbour Road, Watchet. The level of objections to the proposals for double yellow lines along both sides of the road - originally intended to go hand in hand with the enhancement of the car park and its eventual transformation into a transport interchange - means the issue will now go before a Somerset County Council traffic regulation order committee. Local county Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew told town councillors at a meeting on Monday that no date had yet been given for the hearing but they and other people would be able to attend it. "You can come along on the day and have your say," he said. "Don't get the impression that, just because the officers say they want double yellow lines, it is a foregone conclusion. "However, on the other hand there is no guarantee of success either." The proposals sparked particular concern from leaders of the Methodist Church, worried that the restrictions would cause problems for weddings and funerals, as well as difficulties for elderly members of the congregation. West Somerset district Cllr Tony Knight said he understood the proposals had been dropped and the issue would now be reconsidered. But he said he had been told that it could be a further eight weeks before it was clear what new proposals would be drawn up. Local people are largely prepared to accept double yellow lines on the car park side of the road but feel the current proposals are too restrictive. Town councillors are, however, hoping to win support from highways chiefs for measures to ease congestion problems in Swain Street. The authority's environment and planning committee has come up with suggestions to create three parking bays outside the post office - one of which would be for disabled drivers - and two parking bays - one for disabled - outside the council chamber. All the bays would be restricted to a maximum 20- minute wait. In addition, town councillors want to see double yellow lines from the post office to the Corner Café, to the West Somerset Hotel and beyond the parking bays outside the council chamber to the entrance of the Swain Street car park. Cllr Paul Chamberlain, who recently met with highways officers, said the proposals had been to Richard Newby at the highways department but had been met with little interest. He called on Cllr Trollope-Bellew to support the measures, which he said were necessary because of the narrowness of the road and the problems caused currently by parked cars. "There has been a case recently of a fire engine not being able to drive down Swain Street because of the parked vehicles, although thankfully it was not on an emergency call. "We believe we do need some yellow lines down there." But Cllr David Banks said he had little confidence in traffic calming measures. "It is a problem because lorries are getting bigger and traffic on the roads is heavier," he said. "But this is a medieval street and I can't see these proposals being a full-term solution. "Swain Street was just not built for this and I think we will have to look for further long-term answers than simply putting down double yellow lines."
