More short stay parking spaces could be created in Wellington after complaints from shoppers they have nowhere to park. Drivers could get about 300 more short-stay spaces.

The borough council is considering the move.

There have been concerns shoppers struggle to park near the town centre as spaces are filled by people leaving their vehicles there all day. A public consultation over the move is to begin.

The car parks which would be affected are: Nailors Row, on the site of the old bus station; the medical centre car park in Victoria Road; the Tan Bank/Bel- mont Car Park and the swi- mming pool east car park next to the town council offices.

The rest would be long stay car parks, meaning there would be about 500 spaces available for workers and commuters using Wellington Rail Station.

All parking would still be free.

On the short-stay car parks, parking would be allowed for a maximum stay of four hours at any one time with no return within two hours, with the restrictions applying from 7am to 6pm every day.

Long-stay parking will still be available at all other car parks in the town.

Councillor Steve Bentley, cabinet member for environment said today: “We hope the proposals will mean that shoppers and people attending medical appointments will be able to find spaces closer to the centre of town, whilst still providing plenty of spaces for commuters and workers to park all day in the long stay car parks.”

The consultation will run for 21days before a final decision is made.