Sudbury trains and busses unreliable and causing parking problems

Forty per-cent of people living in Sudbury have described public transport in our area as a 'joke' and are having to rely on cars as their sole mode of transport. This is starting to cause problems when it comes to car parking in our town.

A recent poll on our website has shown that Sudbury's residents would rather pay the increasingly high petrol and diesel prices rather than venture onto a train or bus. To see the results of our poll click here.

Nationally 39 % of people voting in the same poll (from towns across the UK) have said they have to rely on their cars. This shows us that the people of Sudbury are not alone in thinking that public transport is not worth using.

As you would expect, with more cars on the road it is increasingly hard for shoppers, workers and tourists to find a place to park up.

Responding to the national poll Diane Wehrle a Director from the Springboard market research company thinks that 'car parking has long been an issue for town centres'.

She told Sudbury People: "Footfall in town centres has declined by around 20% over the last five years, which can in part be explained by the availability of free and plentiful parking at out of town shopping locations."

A spokesman from the British Parking Association (BPA) added to the debate by saying: "The BPA appreciates the importance of appropriate parking provision and its effect on the vitality of the high street.

"It is important to remember that, when making parking choices, it is not just price that is considered by car park users; they also take into account quality, convenience, safety and accessibility of the destination."