PLANS to make Burnham railway station’s car park free for residents are in the pipeline.

Burnham Town Council are in negotiations with National Car Parks (NCP) to allow free parking at the car park, near Station Road.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, councillors recognised the need for more free parking spaces in the town to ease congestion and relieve pressure on the packed roadsides.

However, it was revealed that the process would not be quick.

Councillor Ron Pratt told the meeting: “I had a meeting recently with the representative of NCP, who agreed that he would go to the company and fight for what we were putting on the table, which is free parking at the station for all residents of Burnham.

“However, he did say of it that it would not be quick. He is strongly supportive of what we want, but the prediction is that it could take between six to 12 months to come off.

“We have been in this situation before where we have gotten so close to getting it, then the management changes and we have to start all over again.”

He added: “When it comes around to it, there will be money needing to be paid to NCP. It’s something we will need to do, and we will be budgeting for it at the appropriate time.”

In his report to the meeting, highways co-ordinator for the council Bob Calver said: “At the meeting with NCP, I, councillor Pratt and Mayor Wendy Stamp opened negotiations about the council making a contribution to NCP and allowing residents to park for free.

“That would alleviate the on street parking problem on Foundry Lane and other streets close to the station.

“This is quite a complex matter and discussions may take some time to reach a conclusion.”