Pay and display plans set for axe

Controversial proposals to introduce pay and display parking in eight Devon towns are set to be withdrawn.

There has been huge opposition to the plans which would have seen charges being imposed after an initial free parking period in Braunton, Crediton, Dartmouth, Honiton, Okehampton, Salcombe, Sidmouth and Tavistock.

Devon County Council's Cabinet is due to discuss a report on the proposals next Wednesday (Mar 13) which recommends withdrawing them.

Council leader John Hart, who will chair the Cabinet meeting, said today: "We are listening to the county councillors who have represented their towns very forcefully. We are listening to the residents and businesses in these towns and to their local councils.

"Many of our towns have parking and congestion issues which need to be tackled but it's important that any solution has the support of the local community. We are listening to them."

In a new report published today, Devon's Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, Meg Booth, says: "There has been significant objection to the principle of new pay and display across all communities and to implement the schemes as advertised would not be listening to the concerns of the communities.

"However, within the comments received, there is evidence of parking problems within the communities and if and when communities identify potential solutions, these could be considered at a future date."

Councillors will hear that a total of 5,323 representations were received with over half from Tavistock alone. In each case, the vast majority were opposed to pay and display.

Over half the representations were concerned about the impact on the High Street and to businesses with over a fifth maintaining that the existing restrictions were effective.

In addition a petition of over 3,000 signatures was received from Dartmouth Against Metered Parking and another petition was received from Crediton.

Devon’s Cabinet member for Highway Management, Stuart Hughes, said: “I do hope that the recommendation not to proceed with the proposals for pay and display in the eight towns shows that the county council has listened to the feedback from the public and local members following the consultation.

“It is now open to the communities on how they would wish to address their parking issues so that joint sustainable solutions can be developed in the future.”

The report makes it clear that the introduction of pay and display was not designed to create an income but to influence travel and parking choices.

It concludes: "Significant objections have been received to the proposals that were advertised and therefore the recommendation is the proposals are not progressed."