Local traders have opposed plans by a local council to introduce two-tier parking fees which would see non-residents pay more.
The move by South Hams District Council would impact more than 20 car parks in Devon and is set to come into effect from April 2025.
The controversial system would see visitors potentially paying double the rate of local residents, making South Hams one of the first councils in England to implement such a policy.
Now traders have shared their fury with one person calling the plans “short-sighted” and said they showed “ignorance of how the town works as a community”.
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The proposals could see non-residents pay double to park in the area
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The council’s proposal comes after four years of frozen car park prices during the cost-of-living crisis, with officials saying they can no longer afford to maintain current rates.
Under the proposed scheme, South Hams residents would be able to register two vehicles per household to access lower parking charges across all council-owned car parks.
The discount would be available through a cashless parking app, with those without smartphones receiving an extra half hour of parking time instead.
The council said it reviewed parking charges across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, finding that South Hams’ rates are currently lower than most comparable locations.
Even with the planned increases, council officials maintain that visitors to South Hams will still pay less for parking compared to other similar tourist areas across Devon and Cornwall.
Councillor Victor Abbott said the new changes would ensure “visitors make a fairer contribution to the cost of the services they use”.
But council leader Julian Brazil told the BBC the extra revenue was needed to fund essential services including waste collection, leisure centres, and maintenance of beaches and streets.
“I can’t say anyone’s in favour of increasing car parking charges and if we didn’t have to we wouldn’t do it,” Brazil said, citing “financial pressure” as the driving force behind the decision.
He defended the two-tier system, stating: “The fact we’re charging visitors a little bit more than locals, that’s been slightly controversial in the towns.
“What I would say is we’re still one of the cheapest places to park in Devon. If we could do free parking that would be fantastic, but we can’t afford to.”
Local business owners have expressed strong opposition to the proposed changes with one person warning the impact would be “devastating” for the local economy.
“Most of our visitors aren’t holidaymakers, they’re people who work or shop here, so anyone from Plympton or Buckfastleigh will be classed as a visitor and charged extra,” she said.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Parking fees have remained the same level for the past four years
SOUTH HAMS DISTRICT COUNCIL
Meanwhile Barbara Price, chair of Modbury Parish Council, warned the changes could harm small town traders who rely on passing trade. “You can’t keep trying to milk the tourists because they just won’t come,” she said.
