RINGWOOD councillors have scrapped plans to stop commuters using the town as a park and ride base for getting to work in Bournemouth.

However, they still want New Forest District Council to explore other ways of solving the town's chronic long-stay parking problems.

Town councillors had suggested reducing the maximum time in the Furlong long stay car park from 20 hours to nine hours and only allowing lorries into the lorry park between 6pm and 8am to maximise its use by car drivers.

However, after opposition from individuals and organisations including Wilts & Dorset Bus Co and National Express Coaches, they have dropped the changes to car parking limits. But they are still in favour of restricting lorry parking.

The issue has now to go before district council cabinet members on Wednesday.

District council car park manager John Bull has recommended that existing car parking restrictions remain in place.

He also recommends that the lorry parking is allowed only between 6pm and 8am and that car parking spaces should be marked out in the lorry park area.

Mayor and New Forest district councillor Michael Thierry denied the town council had made a U-turn but simply put forward a possible solution.

"When we went out to consultation people said they did not like it," he said.

Town councillors suggested the district council investigate changes in charging, reviewing car park layouts and providing decked parking.

First published: October 4