SHOPPERS are to get 23 new parking spaces in Ely city centre – but an out-of-town car park is closing. Council officers have signed an agreement to create the new spaces in St Mary s Street car park and are terminating the lease on Cresswells Lane car par

SHOPPERS are to get 23 new parking spaces in Ely city centre - but an out-of-town car park is closing.

Council officers have signed an agreement to create the new spaces in St Mary's Street car park and are terminating the lease on Cresswells Lane car park.

It has up to 72 spaces but, the council claimed it was "under-utilised".

Money saved by the car park closure will be spent on a park-and-ride service from the new Angel Drove Car Park in December.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is also seeking residents' views on changes which could create more than 100 more short stay parking spaces by making changes to existing car parks.

Charges of £2.50 a day or £11 for a seven-day ticket could also be introduced for the new long stay commuter car park at Angel Drove.

There are no plans, at present, to introduce charges in other city car parks.

Councillor John Seaman, chairman of the council's environment and transport committee, said: "We have worked hard to come up with proposals which we believe tackle the car parking issues in Ely. The changes will deliver more short stay parking for those using the city centre for shopping or to visit Ely, while creating spaces for those who need to park over a longer term."

Under the proposals Forehill car park would become four-hour short stay and St Mary's car park would change from two-hour stay to three hours.

There would be morning restrictions throughout the city's car parks to encourage commuters to use the new car park at Angel Drove.

Officers are exploring new locations for coach parking in an attempt to move coaches out of Barton Road car park to free up more spaces for car drivers. Market vehicles, which currently use Cresswells Lane car park, could be given permits to park on alternative sites being sought.

The consultation period on the car parking changes runs until August 30 and the results will be discussed by the environment and transport committee on September 13.

Details of the proposals are available from the council offices, Ely, Soham, Littleport and Burwell libraries or on-line at www.eastcambs.gov.uk