TUMBULGUM Tavern owner Kit Gooley has backed moves to create more parking along the riverside in the small Tweed village. He says the moves have been supported by "a pretty healthy majority" of local residents.

Tweed Shire councillors are today due to vote on the plan which would see 18 extra car parking spaces created with the loss of just over 350 sq m of riverside parkland.

Their decision follows a public meeting in the village hall nearly two weeks ago where that option was favoured.

Last Thursday Mr Gooley told councillors at a community access session he also backed the so-called option four but suggested the removal of proposed chicanes around a pedestrian crossing could create some more spaces.

He said the "four blobs of white concrete" would be unnecessary and in any case pedestrians in Tumbulgum were unlikely to use the crossing due to their habits of crossing Riverside Dr where they chose.

Councillors have been told the public meeting on the issue was chaired by mayor Barry Longland and attended by about 60 members of the public.

Council officers, in a report to the councillors said it was apparent "from the views expressed at the meeting that there were polarised opinions regarding the necessity or otherwise for more parking spaces".

Opinions were also divided on the "impact additional parking spaces would have on loss of green space on the river reserve".

"Some speakers spoke of a need for middle ground but these seemed to be a small minority," the report said.

At the end of the meeting Cr Longland took a poll of the views of those present regarding their preferences for the four options which had been posted on the council's website.

The report says most people voted for option four with 28 votes in favour.

The original plan, which had less parking and was adopted by the council just over a year ago, attracted 18 votes.

Option two, which would provide 11 additional spaces with a loss of 200 sq m of parkland, won two votes.