GREAT Blakenham residents could face parking restrictions, a public inquiry heard today.Giving evidence during day 11 of the SnOasis enquiry held at Ipswich Corn Exchange, Suffolk County Council transport officer Alan Newman told planning inspector John Gray that if visitors to the proposed £300 million leisure complex parked outside the designated 2,000 space car park then residents parking schemes would need to be imposed.

GREAT Blakenham residents could face parking restrictions, a public inquiry heard today.

Giving evidence during day 11 of the SnOasis enquiry held at Ipswich Corn Exchange, Suffolk County Council transport officer Alan Newman told planning inspector John Gray that if visitors to the proposed £300 million leisure complex parked outside the designated 2,000 space car park then residents parking schemes would need to be imposed.

In a series of exchanges with William Upton, the barrister representing the SnOasis Community Alliance, a group opposing the development, Mr Newman insisted the 2,000 space limit would be sufficient for the facility.

Mr Upton asked Mr Newman where people would park if 1,000 delegates turned up to a conference at the complex. Mr Newman replied: “That would be a matter for the operators”.

Mr Newman said the council had asked the operator to encourage more sustainable travel to and from the facility. Mr Upton said: “There will be pressure on surrounding roads or areas nearby if you do not allow adequate parking on this site”.

Mr Newman said: “If that were the case we would expect a resident parking scheme to deal with it if people try to park locally”.

Mr Upton said opponents to the development were concerned SnOasis would prove more popular than anticipated thereby encouraging more traffic than has been assessed in the planning proposals.

He said: “If you have inadequate parking that will cause problems around the site”.

Mr Newman replied: “It would unless we take measures to prevent it”.

Mr Upton added: “Are you suggesting parking restrictions around the whole village”.

“Not around the whole village, one would take a reasonable radius from the SnOasis car park,” replied Mr Newman.

The six week inquiry is due to finish at the end of February. The enquiry continues.