KEY decision makers are drawing up ideas of how to address parking issues in a historic market town.

From the summer motorists will be charged for using The Elms and Fore Street car parks in Framlingham. The move has been made by Suffolk Coastal District Council as part of a review of its car parks agreed last year. Parking on Market Hill - owned by the town council - will still be free.

A working party of key decision makers - including the business association and town council - has been formed to address issues and flesh out solutions.

Jenny Stockman, chairman of Framlingham Business Association, said: “In common with all the market towns I am aware of, car parking is a perpetual problem, exacerbated by ever increasing use of cars, lack of available spaces to park, resistance to paying for the convenience of parking, reluctance to walk relatively short distances and the increasing value of land in town centres which sees landowners hoping to realise a premium for development sites rather than allow the space to be freed for parking.

“Rather than take a knee jerk reaction to the inevitable introduction of parking charges in two of Framlingham’s existing car parks, interested parties and key decision makers have formed a dedicated working group to address the issues holistically and implement real practical short and long term solutions.

“It is strongly felt that our town has its unique set of problems and whilst lessons can be learned from other towns, a solution has to be tailor-made for our town and the initiative behind implementing solutions must be driven from within.”

Eileen Coe, clerk to Framlingham Town Council, said they were looking at a number of possibilities - such as alternative parking on a Saturday and parking specifically for market traders.

She said they would also be monitoring the affect the introduction of charges in The Elms and Fore Street had on free parking on Market Hill.

“Parking is a problem for us in the town,” she said. “We are looking at the whole issue as part of our ongoing Neighbourhood Plan. We’ve had several requests for residents parking, particularly in Double Street and Fore Street.

“Those areas are close to the town centre and residents do have a problem. There is a concern the situation could get worse when the pay and display charges come in. What we really need is a long stay parking solution off the town centre for people who work here to keep the town centre spaces free for shoppers.”