TAVISTOCK?S parking headache could be eased if the go-ahead is given for a second footbridge over the River Tavy.

A senior West Devon Council official last week said a footbridge linking the Bedford and Riverside car parks could be the way forward.

Drivers enter the Riverside car park from Pixon Lane and can then walk into town along St John?s Walk on the south side of the River Tavy.

But David Inman, borough deputy chief executive, last week told Tavistock town council the 120-space Riverside car park was relatively under-used, despite recent improvements in signing.

He said: ?The question is why is this happening? As the crow flies, I suppose it?s as close to the town as many other car parks.

?The reason we think is that people have to use St John?s Walk and for the female user, specially when it?s getting dark, it?s thought that the walk is somewhat damp, dingy and a little bit of a deterrent.

?Even with a fairly hard trim-back of the trees, I don?t think that situation will improve.?

Mr Inman said by building a pedestrian bridge across the river, Riverside car park would, in effect, become an extension of Bedford car park.

He was aware the council needed to replace the present footbridge over the river ? by taking on both projects at once, economies of scale might mean both authorities could save between £10,000 to £25,000 each.

The idea of just building one bridge between the present footbridge site and the proposed one would not work, said Mr Inman, because users in either direction would be walking for some distance away from the route in which they were travelling.

?The first thing we have to establish is whether we can build our bridge. We have to cross your land and you have to give your consent,? said Mr Inman.

Cllr Robin Pike said the bridge was a good idea, but he foresaw problems with its construction, given the width of the valley and its gradient.

Cllr Peter Jones suggested a multi-storey car park at Riverside would be a good idea. ?You can?t see it and it wouldn?t have any more impact on the town,? he said.

Cllr Roy Connelly said he liked the idea of a bridge linking the car parks but he still thought more would have to be done to increase usage of Riverside, including better lighting and resurfacing.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green suggested adding an extra level to Bedford car park and building a road bridge across to Riverside.

Cllr Norma Woodcock said the borough ought to erect signs to say how long it would take to walk to the town centre from Riverside. She was in favour of the bridge idea, but stressed the importance of the site.

?It?s got to be environmentally very, very good.

?I wouldn?t like to agree in principle and then find because of monetary constraints we end up with something that?s practically good but environmentally takes away from a really crucial natural asset to the town,? she said.

Mr Inman said multi-storey car parks cost millions of pounds and he did not feel either Riverside or Bedford car parks were suitable, either structurally or environmentally.

He said there was some money available to improve lighting, surfacing and line-painting in Riverside car park ? usage had increased slightly following improvements in signage.