THE Barley Mow pub in Rockwell Green is setting up a parking scheme to help with the problems caused by increased demands on parking close to the nearby post office.
Hundreds of extra customers have flocked to the post office in Rockwell Green since the main post office in Wellington closed in the middle of last year.
This has provided a welcome boost to trade at the post office but the extra demand on parking has caused problems for neighbouring properties, with cars being damaged and in one case written off.
Now Barley Mow landlord Mark Taylor has introduced a permit parking scheme to help the Post Office and local residents. This will allow people using the post office to park in the pub car park opposite, to relieve pressure on nearby streets.
Mark said: “We have noticed a huge surge in people visiting the post office since the Wellington branch closed. Most people have been fine but there have been problems with inconsiderate parking, causing damage to property and other vehicles. We have also had residents blocked in by cars being parked where they shouldn’t be.”
On-street parking is very limited in the area with the only place to park being the old road which leads to the cemetery. This road is very narrow and the lack of off-street parking for residents who live there means most have to park on the road themselves. The Post Office also has regular deliveries and collections from Royal Mail and other delivery firms.
Mark added: “We have had lots of people using our car park, mistakenly thinking it was a post office or public one, which has caused problems with customers and our delivery drivers being blocked in or delayed.
“Several people have said they would be happy to pay a small amount for the convenience of using our car park while they are in the post office. It is not meant as a money-making venture for us and we will be issuing free permits to our regular customers so we can reward their loyalty to the pub in these difficult times.”
The permits will cost £20 a year and can be purchased from the pub.