EXTRA car parking should be the top priority of a regeneration plan for Wells, says a local councillor.Creation of a new 400-space parking area off Freeman Street should be moved up the batting order of schemes from third to top spot, Jonathan Savory told North Norfolk District Council's cabinet.

EXTRA car parking should be the top priority of a regeneration plan for Wells, says a local councillor.

Creation of a new 400-space parking area off Freeman Street should be moved up the batting order of schemes from third to top spot, Jonathan Savory told North Norfolk District Council's cabinet.

In a message relayed to the meeting by colleague Angie Tillett, he said car parking was the lifeblood for seaside towns, so it should be the number one priority, ahead of schemes for the Maltings and Stearman's Yard.

Cabinet members agreed to back the formation of a partnership board - comprising council and community representatives - to drive forward the initiative.

Clive Stockton said it had been “contentious in some ways”, but partly due to misunderstandings and people not realising the ideas were just scenarios that were awaiting a public response.

Local councillor Joyce Trett said the ideas from consultants matched suggestions made by local people over the years, and that “hopefully we can find a way forward and overcome obstacles we often have in Wells.”

The Wells for the Future vision looks at a series of issues and areas for action in the town and seeks to find programme of co-ordinated schemes.

It currently shows a scheme for homes on part of the existing Stearman's Yard as top priority, ahead of improving the Maltings including a new museum and public square, followed by the Freeman Street car park, a new visitor centre for Beach Road, and quayside improvements.

The multi-million-pound plans have not been universally welcomed, with Wells Town Council voting against half of the 12 shortlisted projects in December amid concerns over the loss of parking spaces.