Published: Sunday, 18th January, 2009 10:00am

Order to free up space in Eton

by Callum Brodie

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TRADERS on Eton High Street look set to benefit from plans to introduce a Traffic Order on nearby Eton Wick Road.

Eton town councillors are working alongside the Royal Borough in a bid to ease congestion on the town's busy roads and have drawn up a proposal designed to create more parking spaces for tourists and shoppers.

The Order, which is expected to be introduced within the next month, will aim to tackle the amount of out-of-town commuters who use the road in amongst the college houses as a place for parking before travelling to work by train.

Cllr Liam Maxwell, Royal Borough councillor for the Eton and Castle Ward, explained: "Parking in Eton is supposed to be for people who live and work in the town. A lot of people are currently using Eton Wick Road as a place to leave their car all day while they travel in to London to work.

"These people are making no contribution to the local economy during a time when there is a serious economic crisis going on. The idea behind the Order is to free up space on the road so we can support the traders on the High Street. We hope to create a situation where it is better to park short term."

The new measures are set to mirror those brought in along Eton High Street 18 months ago and will involve the installation of a number of parking meters that will only allow drivers to use the spaces for up to five hours.

Traders are now hoping that the new Order will free up space to enable easier access for day-time visitors to the town.

Frank Viljoen, chairman of the Eton Traders Association, said: "The problem at the moment is that people can get away with parking for free. A Traffic Order would certainly make sense as there are various streets in Eton that have become quite congested and the those responsible are often away working elsewhere."