Going beyond the limit

Our story on the introduction of a three-hour time limit for parking at the Ashford Retail Park created a wave of online comments, mostly critical. Park managing agent Savills says the it’s necessary to stop non-shoppers parking there all day. Here are so

On Facebook, you said: Natalie Mills: “Getting a parking space isn’t an issue. Sorting out the junction should be a priority.” Karen Moss: “Don’t go there anymore after the last time my visit took me a ridiculous time to get out of the car park. How about making exiting the car park/sorting the congestion problem a priority first?” Cathie Elgar: “Ridiculous! They need to sort the flow of traffic leaving the park before any parking restrictions are considered.” Dave Hayes: “The retailers might want to challenge the land agents if the restrictions are too short. A couple of hours can soon be up visiting more than one shop and stopping for a coffee.” Lauren Wedge: “I think that’s a shame to be honest. I got a parking fine in Maidstone for overstaying in the car park at Asda Home and The Range even though we hadn’t gone anywhere else and were in the shops on that business park.” Lesley Sutton: “Easy solution ... go elsewhere to shop.” Maxine Kirk: “Stupid. Who parks there when not shopping?” June Newman: “Personally l don’t think a roundabout at that junction will work. It’ll be the same as it is now. Giving way to traffic coming from the right is the same with the junction and the roundabout. Someone has to have an answer. It’s the reason why I don’t visit.” Callum Tilbee: “Nobody parks there and walks to work. It’s in the middle of nowhere. Open up the back road but put concrete speed humps in.” Hayley Astley: “So what’s going to happen when you can’t leave the car park because it’s gridlocked? Will you get charged for being stuck in traffic?” On KentOnline, you said:Ashfordresident: “I’m not bothering with that place anymore then.” Christopher Mason 2: “A live version of Supermarket Sweep. Well if they charge for parking elsewhere this will inevitably happen. Give it time, the parkers will eventually move on.” EdS: “Can anybody suggest why anyone would park here if they weren’t shopping at any of the stores mentioned in the article?”

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk

Picture: Molly Mileham-Chappell A sign indicating the changed parking regulations