Snettisham Parish Council has introduced new short-stay parking arrangements designed to prevent spaces being occupied throughout the working day and give more people the opportunity to park in the heart of the village.

And the good news is that parking will remain free.

Under the trial, drivers can park in the Market Place for up to 90 minutes, Monday to Friday, with no return permitted within two hours.

The aim is to encourage a regular turnover of vehicles, making it easier for residents and visitors to call into local businesses without spending time searching for an available space.

Helping village businesses

Snettisham Market Place is home to several popular local businesses, including shops, the pharmacy, the Old Bank Bistro and The Old Store bakery and café.

For businesses that rely on customers being able to pop in, convenient parking can make a real difference.

The parish council hopes that limiting how long vehicles can remain in the Market Place during weekdays will free up spaces for people collecting prescriptions, picking up shopping, meeting friends for coffee or enjoying a bite to eat.

The new arrangements are intended to discourage all-day parking rather than make life difficult for those visiting the village.

An alternative for people working in the village

Of course, some people need to park for considerably longer than 90 minutes, particularly those working in Snettisham’s shops and businesses.

To help accommodate them, the parish council has rented the Pavilion Car Park between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

This will provide an alternative parking location through a permit scheme, allowing local business staff to leave their vehicles there rather than occupying spaces in the Market Place throughout the day.

The hope is that this will strike a balance between the needs of people working in the village and those visiting for shorter periods.

How the trial works

The new Market Place arrangements are straightforward:

1. Maximum stay: 90 minutes
2. No return: Within two hours
3. When: Monday to Friday
4. Cost: Free
5. Alternative parking: Pavilion Car Park permit scheme for longer-stay parking

The arrangements will initially run for six months, giving the parish council an opportunity to assess how well they work.

For a village with a busy centre and a good selection of independent businesses, keeping parking spaces available can be an important part of supporting the local economy.

And if the trial works as intended, it should mean more opportunities to find a convenient space, whether you’re collecting a prescription, visiting a shop or stopping for a coffee.

After all, nobody wants to spend longer looking for somewhere to park than they do enjoying their visit to the village.