A lack of concrete plans for off-street parking in parts of Bury St Edmunds have been criticised by a councillor, who accused the authority of “stalling for time.”

St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee are due to discuss parking problems in Skyliner Way next week.

The report will be presented following concerns voiced by Trevor Beckwith, who felt an original investigation into the issue of workers parking outside businesses in March 2010 had not been satisfactorily addressed.

Mr Beckwith had asked council officers to provide a solution to the number of cars parked outside businesses in the area in the form of off-street parking at commercial premises or the creation of a full-length lay-by along Skyliner Way.

The highways department claimed at the time that the level of on-street parking did not create an issue and effectively reduced traffic speeds.

Now officers have suggested that it could be possible to explore the creation of off-street parking in the area in conjunction with the development of the Eastern Relief Road.

But, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting Mr Beckwith, said the latest proposal was “just a load of waffle.”

“They said wait and see. What they are coming up with now is ‘maybe it could be dealt with as part of the road development’.

“But my understanding is that you can’t get a developer to resolve an existing problem. If the new road would create additional parking along there then the new developers would have to prevent it from happening. But as it’s an existing problem I don’t see how they can get the developer to get it sorted out.”

Mr Beckwith said the authority had stalled for time. He added: “What has developed since four years ago is that we have got a new school coming up there, we’ve got Bury Town Football Club, 500 more houses.

“There’s a significant amount of development, which means a significant increase in traffic and it’s just going to exacerbate the problem there now.”

The report states the council is no longer responsible for highway matters, with Suffolk County Council taking over responsibility.