A COUNCIL has come up with a novel way of improving life for car park attendants in a market town - by giving them a bike to use.

A COUNCIL has come up with a novel way of improving life for car park attendants in a market town - by giving them a bike to use.

The initiative has been hailed as a flexible and environmentally-friendly measure designed to ensure that the 10 attendants that cover Bury St Edmunds can respond to any problems much quicker.

The bike, which will be shared by the part-time staff, now means attendants can get round the town's numerous car parks and resident permit areas while also helping motorists find spaces.

Steve Boor, engineer at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said the initial response from attendants had been overwhelmingly positive.

He said: “Our car park attendants have to cover a big area in Bury and it is getting bigger. There are a large number of car parks in the town as well as residential parking zones and we thought a bike might help.

“It is not just about them issuing tickets - they have an ambassadorial role and have to respond to any concerns as well. Being able to cycle round the town makes them more flexible and able to help people much quicker.”

Mr Boor said other larger towns and cities had adopted the scheme, which coincides with National Bike Week, and had proved to be successful.