The closure of a community centre car park to parents on the school run has been temporarily reversed, following a campaign highlighted by the Reporter before Christmas.

The move follows concern from a number of Katherine Semar Junior and Infant School parents, who claimed that restricted access to Golden Acre Community Centre car park would increase disruption to residents and pedestrians in the area, as well as to those dropping off and picking up their children from school.

There now appears to have been a U-turn on the decision made by the town council in December. The body owns the community centre property and wanted to restrict usage of the car park to hirers of the centre to reduce “wear and tear”.

However, as of Monday, January 5, interim town clerk Gordon Mussett has personally been opening and locking up the car park, so that parents can still use the facilities for dropping off and picking up their children either ends of the school day.

“The mayor, councillor Sandra Eden, has asked us to keep the car park open during the day and [for] the future of the car park to be decided by the new Town Council after [the elections in] May,” he said.

Mr Mussett added it was the council’s view that greater consideration needed to be given to the future of all town council properties.

“I am opening it up for parents in the morning at about 8.15am, and closing it completely at night after school, at about 4pm,” he said, adding vehicles still inside the car park at that time would be locked in overnight.

Sharon Morris, who has two children attending Katherine Semar schools, said she was “thrilled” with the move.

“I am really pleased that they have given the decision a temporary reprieve and are working to investigate other options.

“It looks like people were listened to, which is what you want from the people you elect,” she added.