A miniature train could ease city centre Parking problems.

Chichester District Council borrowed a scaled-down train which runs on the road to test its viability as a city transport option yesterday.

London attraction Kew Gardens handed over the road train for the day to try out ferrying people from car parks on the edge of the city into the centre.

The city has long had a problem with congestion and parking and the council is hoping the train could prove a novel solution, encouraging people to use car parks outside the city then hop on board.

A fun version of a park and ride, the train would carry more than 20 people as well as buggies and wheelchairs from outlying city car parks and save them a ten-minute walk into the centre.

Chichester District Parking Forum had been discussing ways of transporting people from out-of-town car parks into the centre for more than 20 years but had never managed to hit on the right solution.

Then last year a play put on by the Festival Theatre provided inspiration.

Parking forum chairman, councillor Tony French said: "The production started at the theatre and finished at the cathedral.

"They borrowed a tiny train from the Gunwharf Quays shopping precinct in Portsmouth.

"We suddenly thought that could be a nice idea to solve the parking problem so started to investigate."

The historic city has many narrow streets and sharp bends so yesterday's trial helped check which routes the vehicle could successfully navigate.

Routes linking the Avenue de Chartres car park to Northgate, past the city cross and the cathedral are being considered.

The forum, the city's chamber of commerce, West Sussex County Council and the police were all invited to attend the trial.

Coun French said: "This could really ease pressure on our central car parks as well as being a tourist attraction.

"It's an excellent idea.

"It would be a great help to the disabled, the elderly, mothers with children and tourists who don't know their way around.

"We have been talking about this problem for 20 years but this could be the answer."

The Department of Transport granted the council a vehicle special order which gave permission for the road train to be used on the highway.

Council officers have been considering how the proposal could be implemented.

A report on the project will be presented to the next meeting of the forum following the trial.

They will then decide whether or not to go ahead.

Friday, October 14, 2005