New car park will boost Barnstaple's high street

400 spaces will generate over £90K

It’s claimed a new ‘Barnstaple Central’ car park of nearly 400 spaces will help regenerate the high street.

North Devon Council is consulting with the public about boundary changes, access and the name of a new car park, which will replace ones at Queen Street and Bear Street.

The work forms part of the £9.5 million Future High Streets programme for Barnstaple which will be done in stages to reduce disruption.

The car park at Queen Street is currently closed for resurfacing until September, when Bear Street will close for improvement work.

There will be also be new drainage, lighting and an improved layout to cater for disabled parking, and parent and child  bays.

A third access to the new car park will be added from Alexandra Road with a pedestrian link created to the pannier market, high street and river front.

The council says the upgrade, costing around half a million pounds, will have “a substantial positive regeneration impact on the town centre”. It also expects to bring in an extra £91,000 in parking fees a year.

An extension is also being proposed for the Tarka car park which will include the access road running from the Seven Brethren lorry/van park past the Tarka Leisure Centre to the Seven Brethren long stay car park.

The authority says this is necessary because of increased usage of the parking areas since Tarka Leisure Centre was completed. It will give council officers the power of enforcement in areas where people park on the roadside instead of in parking bays.

Other changes include the introduction of a half hour 50p charge at Belle Meadow car park which has been requested by customers attending the medical centre and the pharmacy.

The Future High Streets cash has paid for improvements to the town’s Market Quarter.

The money been described as “an lifetime opportunity” to develop and regenerate Barnstaple to improve the quality of the environment, ensure future resilience and facilitate transformational change.