The ideas form part of a wider parking strategy linked to the town's masterplan, which aims to make better use of land in the centre while maintaining enough parking for residents, workers and visitors.

Council officers believe the current arrangement, with numerous smaller surface car parks spread around the town, could become increasingly difficult to manage as King's Lynn develops.

A report presented to councillors at Wednesday's Joint Panel meeting said: “Parking is spread across too many sites.”

It continued: “The town relies on many relatively small surface car parks. This makes parking harder to manage, creates unnecessary vehicle movements around the town centre, uses valuable development land in a sustainable location and makes it harder for visitors to know where spaces are available.”

Although the council says parking generally works well at present, it believes changes may be needed to accommodate future growth and support the town centre economy.

What could change?

Among the most significant ideas is a major reduction in parking at Tuesday Market Place, where the existing 210 spaces could be reduced to just 25.

The remaining area could become a pedestrian-focused public space, with room for events, performances and places for people to sit and meet.

To replace the lost parking, the council is considering a new 517-space car park on land at the port and timber yard, around a ten-minute walk from the Market Place.

Other sites identified for possible redevelopment include Boal Quay, where 150 homes and new public space are suggested, and Church Street Car Park, where 75 homes, public space and 28 residents' parking spaces could be provided.

At Common Staithe Quay, proposals include 12 homes, community space and 12 residents' parking spaces, while Chapel Street Car Park could accommodate 19 homes.

Parts of Saturday Market Place could also be redesigned to create additional public space while retaining 15 parking spaces.

Further opportunities have been identified around Juniper, Austin and Albert Streets, with the potential for 67 homes and new public areas.

These are options being explored rather than approved redevelopment schemes, and further work would be required before any changes could take place.

Where would people park?

The council's approach is based on replacing smaller car parks with larger facilities in locations considered less sensitive to the town's historic character.

Alongside the proposed port car park, possible additional spaces include 89 north of Wisbech Road, 68 at Austin Street East, 27 along the riverfront and 83 in West Lynn for people using the ferry.

Baker Lane could also become a travel hub while retaining 50 parking spaces.

Existing facilities, including St James Multi-storey, could be used more effectively through improved signs, clearer information about available spaces and automatic number plate recognition at some sites.

The strategy also considers car parks on the approaches to town, linked to walking, cycling and public transport routes.

An earlier park-and-ride proposal has not been taken forward because of its cost and complexity.

Council officers maintain that the intention is not to reduce the overall number of parking spaces, but to reorganise where they are provided.

What would it mean for shoppers and residents?

For those who regularly visit King's Lynn, the proposals could mean a different approach to parking, with some spaces moving away from familiar town centre locations.

The potential changes at Tuesday Market Place are likely to be of particular interest to shoppers, market traders, businesses and people who currently park close to the town's shops and services.

While larger car parks could provide more spaces in one location, the distance people would need to walk to their destination will be an important consideration, particularly for those with limited mobility.

The council is also considering changes to parking charges, including possible inflation-linked increases and prices that vary according to demand or season.

Cheaper Sunday parking has been suggested as one way of encouraging visits outside the busiest shopping periods.

Residents' permits and the balance between short-stay and long-stay parking could also be reviewed, although detailed proposals have not yet been published.

The wider masterplan seeks to encourage more people to live in the town centre, support businesses and make better use of sites currently occupied by surface parking.

The council also believes that redevelopment could generate additional income through council tax and business rates.

What happens next?

Councillors on the Joint Panel have recommended that discussions with stakeholders and further market engagement should continue.

A £50,000 feasibility phase is planned to examine the options in greater detail before a further report is brought to the council's Cabinet.

There are no confirmed dates for individual car park changes, and the proposals remain at an early stage.

For King's Lynn, the strategy raises an important question about how the town can accommodate new homes and public spaces while remaining convenient and accessible for the people who already use it.

The next stage will be to establish whether the suggested replacement parking arrangements can meet those needs before any existing car parks are redeveloped.

Richard Dix spoke to some of the visitors to Lynn:

Trevor from Dersingham told us "Yes, it could work. The strongest idea is giving Tuesday Market Place back to pedestrians and events. It’s one of King’s Lynn’s most recognisable public spaces, and making it somewhere people want to spend time could help nearby businesses. The biggest test is whether the replacement parking is convenient enough for the people who use the square now."

Peter from West Winch said "A 517-space car park at the port would add capacity, but a ten-minute walk matters if you’re popping into town for one errand, carrying shopping or struggling to walk far. The route into the centre needs to feel safe and straightforward after dark, and the 25 spaces left in the square would need a clear purpose. I’d want to see how much close-by Blue Badge and short-stay parking would be available across the town centre."

Laura who works in the town centre was cautious "The order matters too. Open the replacement parking first and see how it performs on busy Saturdays and event days before taking away most of the spaces at Tuesday Market Place. The £50,000 feasibility study should also show what the port car park would cost to build and run, what drivers might pay and how far they’d have to walk to the places they actually visit.

Ziggy from Hillington Square was more upbeat "I’d back exploring the idea. I’d judge it by whether people still find it easy to pop into King’s Lynn and whether, once they’re there, they have more reasons to stay."

Photos and images from KLWNBC