RESIDENTS and traders may have to wait months before crucial decisions are taken on the future of Winchester's car parks.

City councillors approved plans for a comprehensive review of parking policies, which could result in the closure of some car parks.

But chief engineer David Marklew emphasised that the review would probably require several reports to the traffic and engineering committee over the coming months and into the year 2000 before final conclusions are made.

A working party will examine various options for managing the council's car parks and the first report will go before the committee in September.

Both the city and county councils have set a target to reduce traffic in Winchester by 20 per cent over the next two decades.

Officers have stressed that the way in which car parking is managed will be crucial to meeting this goal.

Latest figures show that more than 50,000 people travel to and from the city every day, of which approximately 34,000 travel by car and around 9,000 by public transport.

In a report to this week's committee meeting Mr Marklew highlighted the fact that the amount of town centre parking would be reduced as the provision of park-and-ride facilities increases.

Car parks likely to be considered for closure could include St Peter's, Chesil Street, Middle Brook Street, Upper Brook Street and Gladstone Street.

"The parking policies are aimed at providing a fair allocation of parking for all drivers," added Mr Marklew. Parking is a scarce resource and, if uncontrolled would result in chaos, gridlock, and very poor accessibility for all."

The review will also consider policies covering concessions for disabled drivers, and residents' permits.

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