A SHOE shop owner in Whitchurch has called for a review of current parking restrictions in the town.

Brian Dowling, owner of independent shoe shop G Dowling and Son, has voiced concern over the borough council-enforced 20-minute parking limit outside his store and feels parking attendants operating in the town may not be cost-effective.

A number of Mr Dowling's customers are people with problem feet and the owner of the shop, that has been in Bell Street since 1957, believes customers choose to use his shop because they can park outside the door.

Mr Dowling, 53, is also asking how cost-effective attendants are, as he claims a contractor carrying out work in a flat above the shop was ticketed while loading outside - only for the penalty to be quashed later.

He said: "We sell specialist shoes for bad feet and adjust them for older people. There are not many specialist shoe stores like us in the Basingstoke area.

"Customers who have a job to walk come here from all over the borough and some come here because they can park right outside the door. People choosing shoes can take longer than 20 minutes.

"Some people were parking their cars out here for a long time. I don't agree with that but I think the spaces out here need a longer limit."

Basingstoke council took over responsibility for parking law enforcement in October last year and 77 tickets have been issued in Whitchurch since the scheme was transferred to the authority.

A spokesman for Basingstoke council said: "The parking and waiting restrictions allow loading and unloading to take place, unless there is a loading ban in force at the location in question.

"If a ticket is challenged on the basis that loading or unloading was taking place at the time of issue, and we are satisfied that this was the case, we have to cancel the ticket.

"This is not just the council's policy but is what is required of us under the Road Traffic Act 1991, under which we operate."

Whitchurch borough ward councillor Gill Nethercott, said: "The shop is right opposite a public car park with a four-hour limit but I know Brian has particular difficulties.

"The parking situation in Whitchurch is being reviewed. A parking survey will be coming out soon. Brian is a member of the health check team looking at difficulties. We are trying to solve the problems and we have to consider knock-on effects."