Plans have been unveiled for a new car park at Wells which is set to give major boost to the coastal town.The need for a new car park has been on the drawing board for more than 30 years but following talks between the Holkham Estate, Wells Town Council and the town's Harbour Commissioners, a plan has been drawn up to provide a car park with up to 300 spaces on land at the rear of a new housing development on Freeman Street.

Plans have been unveiled for a new car park at Wells which is set to give major boost to the coastal town.

The need for a new car park has been on the drawing board for more than 30 years but following talks between the Holkham Estate, Wells Town Council and the town's Harbour Commissioners, a plan has been drawn up to provide a car park with up to 300 spaces on land at the rear of a new housing development on Freeman Street.

It will meet a growing need for parking spaces, particularly at the height of the summer season, but also out-of-season when an increasing number of holidaymakers and visitors come to the town.

The proposals, which will need planning consent and go out for public consultation, are to be featured in the town's Parish Fair at The Maltings community hall on April 19.

The proposed scheme, which is to be created on land at the rear of new housing developments on Freeman Street and linked to the quay area by a footpath, was announced to members of Wells Town Council on Tuesday evening by Campbell MacCallum who chairs the council's car parks and traffic working party.

Mr MacCallum said he was delighted to announce details of the scheme which was positive news for the town and long overdue.

He praised the efforts of previous councils which had laid the foundations of the plans and the hard work of some current councillors in bringing forward the project.

The site is owned by the Hollkham Estate and last night resident land agent, Richard Gledson, said such a facility should benefit the whole town.

Mr Gledson pointed out that with the current lack of car parking spaces at the height of the summer period and off-season, some motorists have become so frustrated at no being able to park their cars that they drive away from the town so everyone loses out.

“We would be looking to submit a formal planning application to North Norfolk District Council early in the summer but it would then have to go through public consultation and get the backing of the various interested bodies like the Environment Agency and the highways,” he said.

It is thought that it could be 2010 before the car park was in use.

As to the costs of the scheme, he said that it was unknown because it dependent on many factors, including the type of surface to be used and the extent of fencing and landscaping.

It was likely that the Holkham Estate would develop the car park site and profits from its income would be split between the Estate, the town council and the Harbour Commissioners.