Signs of the times for Weston

Work starts on Monday on a new quarter of a million pound parking guidance

system which will show drivers available spaces in Weston-super-Mare town

centre and seafront car parks.

The phased introduction of the roadside variable message signs will begin

this week with work due to be completed by mid-April.

The new system will help drivers to find available spaces more effectively

and minimise the circulation of traffic on the roads.

A combination of electronic variable signs and static signage will be

displayed at key locations on the routes into the town to show available

parking spaces and locations of the car parks in the town centre and on the

seafront.

The first advance signs will be on Herluin Way, advising drivers of the

beach and town centre car parks, with variable message signs on Station Road,

on the seafront and in the town centre advising drivers of the number of spaces

in the nearest car parks. Similar systems can be found in many towns and cities

across the country.

Siemens PLC will install the £227,500 system, which has been paid for by

developer contributions for the Dolphin Square development, funding from the

government's Local Sustainable Transport and Joint Local Transport Funds, as

well as contributions from both the Sovereign Centre and National Car Parks.

North Somerset Council deputy leader

and executive member for highways Elfan Ap Rees said: "We hope this system

will help both visitors and residents to find convenient off road car parking

spaces more easily, reducing circulatory traffic in the town and further

supporting town centre retailers.

"We are grateful to our car park and developer partners for helping to

share the costs which has minimised any impact on council budgets."