LOCALS have slammed a “devastating” new council plan that would see drivers pay more for parking.
South Hams District Council in Devon is consulting its residents on whether to increase parking charges in order to help fund other services.
However, instead of raising fees for all parking users, the plans would only target non-residents, charging them twice as much as locals.
If the proposal is successful, it would make the authority one of the first in England to introduce a two-tier parking fee policy.
South Hams District Council Leader Julian Brazil told the BBC that extra money is needed to pay for waste collection, to keep leisure centres open, and to look after the beaches and streets.
However, Sue Hawkins, who owns Nature’s Larder in Ivybridge, slammed the plans as “short-sighted” and “devastating”, saying they showed “ignorance of how the town works as a community”.
Sue, who has run her business for 25 years, focused on how most visitors to Ivybridge aren’t tourists but in fact people who work or shop in the town.
Those living in areas such as Plympton or Buckfastleigh, which both lie just outside the South Hams region, would be classed as a visitor and charged extra, she said.
Sue feels the plans would make it even harder for people to visit her town and described the idea as “completely ignorant.”
Modbury Parish Council Chair Barbara Price said she was against the plans, saying her town relies on passing trade.
She feels an increase in car parking charges would deter visitors, adding: “You can’t keep trying to milk the tourists because they just won’t come.”
Barbara, however, said that surrounding supermarkets which had free parking would benefit from the increase.
South Hams District Council has said that every local household would be able to register up to two cars in order to be able to park at the local rate.
However, any other vehicle in the household would have to pay a visitor rate.
While Julian admitted that raising car parking charges would be unpopular, he believes the move is necessary.
The council leader said that councillors came to the decision as a result of “financial pressure”.
However, he said the region is still “one of the cheapest places to park in Devon” despite the “controversial” plans.
He added: “We think we’ve got the balance about right.”
Julian also highlighted that evolving retail trends, as a result of online shopping, means that town centres have to try and attract people.
While he expressed his desire to do so with free parking, the council leader admitted they “can’t afford” to.
The consultation ends today and the decision will be made on the exact prices later in January after the comments are considered by South Hams District Council’s executive.
