A Suffolk town where parking is said to have become a growing problem could see an extra 100 spaces created and areas designated for residents only.

Framlingham Town Council agreed last week to progress its draft parking strategy, after 14 months’ work on the project.

John Jones, chairman of the infrastructure plan committee, said it was about “finding the right solution to Framlingham’s parking problems”.

The seven point strategy includes much sought-after proposals for residents-only parking around Castle, Double, Church and Fore streets. It comes after a residents’ petition called for an end to the “parking chaos” they said was blighting the town.

However, councillor Spadge Hopkins questioned why Bridge Street was not also being offered residents only parking, particularly as proposals for new charges at The Elms car park was likely to affect their current arrangements. Councillor Jo Simpson said much of The Elms was used by residents and new charges would require them to find other spaces in the day.

Mr Jones explained Bridge Street had never been “flagged up” as a parking problem - though options could be revisited later.

Other proposals include creating up to 100 extra spaces at Framlingham Sports Club, offering “low cost, permit only parking” for workers in the town.

Calls for a possible expansion of The Elms car park, however, were met with opposition from councillor Stephanie Bennell, who was concerned by the intrusion into the Mere. “The countryside of Framlingham is being built over and there seems to be nothing we can do about that,” she said. “But it would be a good idea to retain as much open space as we can, rather than think up ideas to sacrifice it to the insatiable demand of the motorcar.”

Mr Jones responded that with no other possibilities to expand town centre parking “we have to realistically look at the feasibility of doing it at The Elms”.

Other points included standardised “pay and display” at The Elms and Fore Street car parks, with no free period, a “free for two hours” parking policy with no parking for longer periods at The Co-op and a “free for one hour” policy in Market Hill.

Councillors voted to progress the strategy with Suffolk Coastal District Council other than Ms Bennell who voted against and Mr Simpson who abstained.

The Strategy

1. Create up to 100 additional car parking spaces at The Framlingham Sports Club, with low cost, permit only parking for employees of Framlingham registered businesses from Monday to Saturday, during business hours.

2. Increase overall car parking capacity both in the town and on the edge of the town including, where and if possible, the expansion of The Elms car park

3, Introduce, manage and enforce a standardised “pay and display” scale of charges for both The Elms and Fore St car parks (no free period). Both car parks will have the possibility of long term parking permits.

4. Introduce, manage and enforce a “free for two hours” parking policy with no parking for longer periods on The Co-op car park and a “free for one hour”, time ticket display parking policy with no parking for longer periods on The Market Hill car park.

5. Implement a “residents parking permit” scheme for the “inner town zone” which will include Castle Street, Double Street, Church Street and Fore Street or parts thereof.

6. Introduce Civil Parking Enforcement regulations throughout the town for both on street and off street (designated public car parks) parking.

7. Implement new and improved signs for all car parks.