Old Hunstanton cafe owner worries for his business and brands new traffic restrictions ‘ill thought out’

Residents say the new double yellows lines and sign posts take away ‘the feel of the place’

“People don’t want to park for the whole day when they’re just coming for a coffee - so we’re going to lose trade, it’s inevitable,” Matthew Coldman the owner of Old Beach Town Cafe says. He objected to the new parking restrictions which have come into force today (11th July) around Old Hunstanton, but feels his concerns “were ignored”.

Old Town Beach Cafe

Speaking outside the cafe Matthew tells me he’s ‘very apprehensive’ about the impact it could have. “I think it’s ill thought out, I don’t disagree with parking restrictions but the way they’ve been implemented seems quite unfair and as we are the only business without parking, we are the only business affected by this. Our biggest problem is the length of time it runs from, Easter up until the end of September, the car park next to us doesn’t open fully until June/July, so there’s a period when there’s going to be nowhere for people to park nearby.”

Walking up sea lane I spot a couple trying to find a parking space - seeing the new double yellows they end up asking how much it is to pay by the Le Strange Arms, but turn around as ‘it’s too expensive’. “We have just come to walk the dogs for half an hour,” the driver tells me, “It’s a ridiculous amount to pay for that. We were going to go to the local cafe too, but we’re off somewhere else”.

Norfolk County Council is introducing the new lines to ‘address congestion particularly during peak visitor seasons’. On some roads they’ll be operational between Good Friday until the end of September at any time, on others it’ll be from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening. Along Old Hunstanton Road, there’ll be limited waiting bays.

Bob, who runs the car park by Le Strange Arms, isn’t impressed - he says in the summer months “I can be full by 10 in the morning and I often see the cliff top one is too. So where else will people park?” Jimbo, who I chat to outside the post office, has lived here for 61 years and says “it spoils the place”.

There are some positive reactions, Steve a resident along Hamilton Road is pleased the restrictions are coming in, “As long as they’re enforced. We didn’t want yellow lines, it kind of ruins the feel, but cars do sometimes block access down here for emergency vehicles.”

There are further concerns from residents who don’t have driveways. One tells me “So, they’ll be no restrictions outside my house - so people will just park here - and then where will I go? The whole thing makes me angry.”

Old Hunstanton Road

When asked to comment about the concerns Norfolk County Council responded, “These changes have been implemented at the request of the parish council to ease traffic congestion and parking issues in the area whilst retaining some on street parking provision for both local residents and visitors.  Two large pay and display car parks are also located in the vicinity with ample availability at all times identified at the Cliff Car Park.  Many of the restrictions are only in force until 6pm so additional on street spaces will be available in the evenings.”