'A great example of people power' say campaigners after parking victory
A controversial new pay and display scheme for eight Devon towns has been withdrawn
Last updated 6th Mar 2024
Controversial proposals to introduce pay and display parking in eight Devon towns are set to be withdrawn, following huge opposition to the plans which would have seen charges being imposed after an initial free parking period in Braunton, Crediton, Dartmouth,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.
Council leader John Hart, who will chair the Cabinet meeting, said: "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."
Devon County Council's Cabinet is due to discuss a report on the proposals next Wednesday (Mar 13) which recommends withdrawing them.
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."
The active Stop The Meters campaign saw objections from Tavistock far outnumbering the other communities. There were 2707 from Tavistock and 2516 from all the others combined. A petition from Tavistock BID on behalf of local businesses handed over to DCC back in the summer of 2023, had 163 signatures.
Tavistock Town Council, Tavistock BID, West Devon Borough Council and Tavistock District Chamber of Commerce have all stood united against the proposals to introduce parking charges in the majority of the streets in the town centre.
Town Mayor Andy Hutton said: "I welcome the decision by DCC to withdraw its proposals and thank all those residents who made their views known. There were 5,323 consultation responses from the 6 communities and 2731 of those were from Tavistock! A really great example of public engagement on an important local issue. I would like to thank everyone who has made their voices heard and, in particular, those who have led the campaign to oppose meters locally throughout."
Councillor Hutton went on to say, ‘this is the right decision and I thank them for listening to the voice of the community which we both serve.’
Janna Sanders – Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) Co Manager said: "We have been campaigning hard for months now and we could not ask for better news. It was obvious by the sheer number of people at the public meeting last week that people in Tavistock do not want meters and do not want to be taxed for using their high street. Our voice has been heard and we thank DCC for doing the right thing! Businesses have been reporting one of the worst trading periods on the high street for many years and are currently trying their hardest to maximise the opportunities to make some amends for a financially difficult year and deliver great service to customers. This is the best news we could ask for to support the high street and protect and promote our unique and special town centre."
Cllr Steve Hipsey, Tavistock Town Councillor and Stop The Meters Action Group campaigner, said: "What a great example of people power. The people of Tavistock got together and soundly rejected an idiotic, ill-thought-out plan that would certainly have caused the demise of our wonderful town centre. Now we must all shop local and keep it alive!’.