Further to the Mayor's letter to Businesses and Residents dated the 14th July 2021. Please see below an update on the situation re. High Street Parking.
Dear Residents & Business Owners
High Street Parking arrangements post 19th July 2021
The Government has announced that as of Monday 19th July all legal restrictions with respect to Covid-19 will be removed, including the 1 metre + social distancing measures.
Instead, the Government will be asking us to manage the situation and our lives through personal responsibility rather than Government control. Public Health are still advising caution as the virus is circulating throughout the country, including Malmesbury.
In line with this announcement, the High Street Regeneration Team of Malmesbury Town Council has met with senior representatives of Wiltshire Council this Thursday, 15th July, to discuss the implications this will have on the removal of the current High Street and Oxford Street pavement widening and parking restrictions.
The removal of the bollards and planters remains wholly the legal responsibility of the Highways officers of Wiltshire Council. We have been advised that Wiltshire Council have a considerable number of such social distancing schemes across the county. All will need removing or modifying. The removal process for Malmesbury will start towards the end of week commencing 26th July.
There will be parking issues and delays in town when the contractors come to remove the bollards and planters. At the same time they will be reinstating the parking bays and lines.
Parking will initially return to pre COVID restrictions. The results of the recent parking survey where we received 364 responses are being considered by WC and will be subject to due process and procedures. They do acknowledge that there is a strong desire from business and residents for 1 hour across the whole town centre and we are all working now to get it implemented as soon as they can. This however could be several months away as statutory consultations rules and regulations have to be followed.
In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding during what has been an unprecedented year as we look forward to the start of a return to the ‘new normal’.
Yours faithfully
Councillor Paul Smith, Mayor of Malmesbury
