Felixstowe: Wireless Green car park closure defended

A DECISION to close a free resort car park on the eve of the summer holidays was today defended by councillors – despite the move causing chaos for motorists.

Day-trippers were forced to find alternative places to leave their cars following the closure of the Wireless Green car park on Friday, the day schools broke up for summer.

The car park used to be free on Sundays and proved popular with tourists.

But it has been closed so work on the new �20million South Seafront development can begin.

With seafront streets packed at the weekend, fed-up visitors were forced to park along Langer Road, with some even using the grass verges next to a factory.

Despite the problems the closure has caused, community leaders say it is vital to allow work to start immediately on the �20million development.

Felixstowe councillor Doreen Savage said: “I did warn the seafront traders it was going to close.

“I know it will be difficult but the development has got to go ahead and it’s really, really important for Felixstowe.

“I’m sorry for people who are finding it difficult but there is really nothing we can do.”

Residents were only told about the closure of the car park on Friday.

Councillors apologised for the inconvenience but stressed a new car park would be ready soon.

Andrew Nunn, cabinet member for the green environment, said: “We are sorry about the lack of notice about the loss of this car park but (developer) Bloor had to move quickly to secure the whole site following its recent occupation by a group of travellers who only moved off last weekend.”

Do you think the car park should have been closed off during the summer?