Reepham Town Council has turned down a request to provide three dedicated parking bays outside St Michael’s House and Riches House, Market Place, opposite the post office.
This would have provided a permanent space for two Norfolk Car Club cars in Reepham and for vehicles such as hearses, wedding cars and minibuses, etc., that require parking adjacent to the church gates.
Norfolk Car Club founder Rex Warner explained that by the end of April, the pay-as-you-go service, which was established in Reepham six years ago, will have 26 cars located in Norwich, Reepham and Aylsham. It now has more than 500 members and is doubling in size every two years.
In November, the Norfolk Car Club received a grant of £100,000 from the Department of Transport (DoT), and it was hoped that some of this money could be used in Reepham to mark out dedicated parking bays and for signage and promotion. (The two cars are currently par ked in Old Brewery Lane.)
Mr Warner pointed to DoT research which showed that 12-20 extra car parking spaces are created for every Car Club vehicle.
The proposal had received support from Revd Margaret Dean, Rector of St Mary’s, and also the Reepham Chamber of Commerce and Reepham Town Team.
It was noted at April’s Town Council meeting that the Reepham-based Original Cottage Company is one of the major Car Club users.
But although they recognised the environmental value of the scheme, several residents argued that reducing the number of car parking spaces in one of the most heavily used areas of the town “is not the right thing to do at this time”.
A majority of Councillors agreed, suggesting that an alternative location for the Norfolk Car Club should be sought.
Mr Warner said a revised proposal will be submitted to the Town Council in due course.