TOWN councillors decided not to give their backing to a request to remove remaining parking restrictions for motorbikes at the area of the war memorial and the Cabin Dairy cafe and tearooms in Burnham-on-Crouch.

At a meeting of Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council yesterday evening (Tuesday, 27 April), councillors heard that the Town Clerk had received a request for members to consider removing restrictions on motorcyles parking at the High Street site, to help attract more bikers to the town throughout the week and therefore support business.

Currently, motorcycles can park by the war memorial outside the Cabin Dairy and on the street opposite on Sundays and Bank Holidays, during April to October.

Council chairman, Councillor Ron Pratt, explained to councillors and members of the public at the meeting that there used to be double yellow lines at the site that "caused mayhem" during the summer months when bikers came to town at the weekends - and that this had led to a lifting of restrictions on the specified days, with the possibility that this could be extended in the future.

However, he added: "My own personal view is that I understand the need to have business brought to the town, but we have 10,000 residents who don't benefit from this and ask what we can do about the constant 'vroom-vroom' outside their windows at weekends. I think we should leave things as they are."

Councillor Mary-Ann Munford added: "I think extending it into the week would be very unpopular."

Members voted to leave the restrictions as they are currently.