Tenterden Town Council has responded to concerns from local retailers and residents regarding the social-distancing measures in the town, which were put in place following the easing of lockdown restrictions and the re-opening of shops.
As a result, 10 parking bays which had been closed off adjacent to the Town Hall have now been restored and following consultation with Ashford Borough Council (ABC), an additional 10 parking bays are scheduled for re-opening next week.
Says Town Clerk Phil Burgess: “We completely understand the concerns of our retailers, who have obviously suffered financial difficulties during lockdown; but there are recent cases of coronavirus in the town – we are not immune.
“Our duty is first and foremost to protect the public and do what is necessary to support government guidelines on two-metre social distancing.
“But we recognize that the closing off of parking bays to facilitate the social distancing guidelines for pedestrians may have dissuaded some shoppers from spending more time in the town, and we are constantly monitoring the situation to see what further steps we might be able to take.” Marketing banners will be introduced early next week.
Mr Burgess also said the Town Council has written to ABC asking them to consider postponing the newly-imposed increase in public car parking charges and to allow free 1-hour parking in Station Road whilst social distancing is in place