THE idea of having a “pop-up” car park in Fordingbridge has been mooted by councillors.

The proposal to use the Recreation Ground car park during the summer was discussed during a meeting of Fordingbridge Town Council’s amenities committee on July 21.

Councillor John Mouland, who chairs the committee, said the idea had been suggested by Councillor Diane Paton. He told the meeting he had a friend in Tintagel who started one of these “pop ups” during the summer months.

These pop-up car parks could be run for a period of 28 days during the year. Cllr Mouland said due to Covid this period had now been extended to 56 days.

Cllr Paton said she had contacted New Forest District Council about the idea who had asked whether there would be a change of use for the area, which she said there would not be as it is already a car park. She said the town council already had public liability insurance there too.

Work to repair and improve the surface of the Recreation Ground car park has been carried out this year.

Cllr Mouland said some of the money taken in parking charges could be donated to charity and also the money could be put back into the town to benefit the local community.

It was suggested the money could be collected by someone with a bucket manning the entrance but there were concerns over security especially dealing with cash, which Councillor Mike Jackson felt could make it a “target”.

But Cllr Mouland said there was also the option for using a card machine.

Cllr Paton said: “It is somewhere we have got the opportunity to earn some money that could be put to good use in the town even if we said we’d give half to charity.

“I would like to do something for charity. It would be a good thing to do,” added Cllr Mouland.

Cllr Jackson felt the council should look at the “long term” whether it was just a pop-up for the summer months or a “more established, all year round situation”.

The council could not put forward a motion to vote on as it was not an agenda item.

 

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