THE search is on for more car parking spaces in or near Romsey town centre.

Test Valley Borough Council is on the lookout for possible new sites and the Romsey and District Society has also set up a working party to look at what is available.

And in its latest newsletter, the Society has pointed out that bigger and better shops and improvements to the town sometimes come at a cost and that there is an estimated shortfall of 260 spaces.

A new Waitrose superstore, extensions to the Bradbeers Department store and the revival of the Dukes Mill shopping centre with a smart new restaurant are among the factors, while the proposed improvement to Romsey Library and its associated residential development also likely to account for a further 40 spaces.

Work is still taking place on the refurbishment of the former Waitrose supermarket in The Hundred. It is due to reopen as an Aldi store in December, when the exact amount of parking to its rear will become clearer.

Further shopping improvements are set to come on stream when the former Royal British Legion site, between Waitrose and Latimer Street, is redeveloped with new shops.

"All these things are nice to have, but they have been costly in terms of parking spaces," said Society working party member Geoff Morris.

But he was quick to point out that the Society appreciates Test Valley's aim is to improve the town and he said: "We have made suggestions and it is obvious that the council recognises the parking shortage and are actively trying to do something about it. We want to make it clear are working with them and not against them."

One of Romsey's problems, he said, was that the public transport linking the town with its surrounding villages was not as adequate as the people living in those villages felt it should be.

It was also ringed by three large and historic cities where considerable efforts had been made to improve parking provision in recent years.

"Winchester and Salisbury have increased their car parking by introducing park and ride schemes. Southampton has solved its problems with a massive new 5,000 space car park at West Quay which is normally half-empty.

"Without adequate parking provision, trade will drift to these cities and Romsey will not survive," he warned. Society chairman Brian Palmer wrote to Test Valley Borough Council chief executive Roger Palmer outlining the need for more parking.

Mr Morris's report explains that Mr Tetstall pointed out that the borough was restrained by government planning policies.

But he added that the borough was "nevertheless seeking land away from the heart of the town in order to relocate essential long-stay users and leave the town centre car parks available for shoppers and visitors."

Mr Morris added that anyone with constructive views on the town's parking situation was "most strongly encouraged" to contact the society.