NEW parking arrangements are coming to Barrow town centre.

Members of the Furness locality board are recommended to approve proposals to vary a traffic regulation order on Preston Street as motorists are ‘abusing the use’ of loading-only parking places.

It is proposed to replace the ‘Loading Only Parking Place, Monday – Saturday, 8am – 6pm’ restriction, with double yellow lines at the back of the Cross Keys Hotel.

The ‘Loading Only Parking Place, Monday – Saturday, 8am – 6pm’ restriction behind 5A, 6 and 7 Portland Walk and 21 Preston Street will be retained.

A council report prepared for the meeting says: “Implementing a no-waiting at any time restriction would help to reduce congestion and improve the area’s amenities.

“Preston Street currently has a number of ‘Loading Only Parking Place, Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm restrictions’. These parking bays were designated many years ago, but today motorists are abusing the use.”

According to council documents replacing the ‘loading only’ signs with single yellow lines and accompanying signs would be ‘inappropriate’ due to the ‘high rate of vandalism’ of parking signs.

The report says: “The only alternative option that was available would be replacing of the loading only bays with single yellow lines (no waiting or parking during the times shown on nearby signs).

“After consulting with our parking team, it was determined that replacing loading only with single yellow lines was inappropriate due to the high rate of vandalism of parking signs.”

The council conducted a statutory consultation and advertisement period between March 8 and March 29 and received one response which was in support of the proposal.

The response said: “I run a business on Portland Walk so consider myself a stakeholder in this proposal. I would very much welcome the introduction of a no parking zone in the area behind my shop. Cars parking in this area are a constant problem for us, preventing deliveries and refuse collection.”

It is estimated the order will cost £2,500 to implement, according to council documents.

Members of Furness locality board are recommended to implement the traffic regulation order when they meet on April 17 at Barrow Town Hall.