RESIDENTS of Chard are being called on to give their views on changes to parking on one of the town centre’s main streets.

Improvements are planned as part of a £2million scheme to renovate the heart of Chard. The cash came after Chard was designated a ‘High Street Heritage Action Zone’ earlier this year.

Half of the funding came from the government, with the other £1million match funded by South Somerset District Council.

An SSDC spokesman said: “Improvements will help to create a high quality town centre environment for local people and visitors, including better access to shops and businesses that are based there.

“As part of this work, we plan to build the pavement out in places along Holyrood Street, replace some of the standard on-street parking with bays reserved for blue badge holders, and move the loading bay alongside the supermarket to outside the Bath House Hotel.”

The plans see a total of six disabled parking bays introduced alongside seven standard bays which will allow all shoppers to access the shops quickly and easily.

The SSDC spokesman added: “With coronavirus restrictions in place, we recognise that this is not the ideal time to be consulting on these proposals because we’d prefer people to be using this area now.

“However, it is important that we do consult now in order to keep the Chard Regeneration Scheme work on track.

“We therefore ask you to base your response to our consultation survey on your experience of Holyrood Street as if it is under normal circumstances.

You can have your say on the proposals by visiting southsomerset.gov.uk/consult. The deadline is Monday, December 21 at 5pm.