CAMPAIGNERS have won a temporary reprieve for Huntingdon s Riverside Park. Huntingdonshire District Council had submitted plans to add 105 additional places to riverside car park. While the extension would have sacrificed one of the two football pitches

CAMPAIGNERS have won a temporary reprieve for Huntingdon's Riverside Park.

Huntingdonshire District Council had submitted plans to add 105 additional places to riverside car park. While the extension would have sacrificed one of the two football pitches on the site, it would have provided much needed additional parking for the town.

The decision to defer the plans, announced on Monday, will allow the council time to consult the public about its vision for the town - including improvements to the riverside area - and publish its parking review, which is due in November.

The previous day, protesters held a picnic in the park to stake their claim to the green space.

Heather Mack, of West Street, said the picnic was a great success. "There were over 100 people there, people brought picnics and a barbecue and children were playing football instead of being stuck indoors."

The council's leader, Councillor Ian Bates, was behind the move to defer the plans.

While he firmly believes the town needs more parking spaces, he admitted the timing of the application would seem a little perverse - coming before the parking review.

Cllr Bates urged the public to view the vision for Huntingdon when it goes on display next month.