PLANS to impose charges in car parks at Leg O? Mutton, Yelverton, which have been free to the public ?since time immemorial? have caused a storm in the community. Local businesses said the car park in the main trading area was the only thing that gave them an advantage over larger shopping centres. But landowners Maristowe Estate, which is also proposing to install parking meters in St Paul?s Church car park, said it has been driven to this action ?to a certain degree? to finance the upkeep of the facilities. Planning permission is being sought from Dartmoor National Park Authority to erect ticket machines and meters ? the company does not need consent to implement charges on its land. Buckland Monachorum Parish Council has objected to the planning application and is requesting more information from Maristowe Estate as to what the charges might be. Richard Eales from the Corner Shop at Leg O?Mutton said charges would have a big impact on his business which backs onto the car park: ?People just want to stop off, buy their lottery ticket or sandwich and go again. ?It is very convenient, but if they have to pay to park, they will either shop somewhere else or park at the front which gets very congested.? He said there was more than ten businesses at Leg O? Mutton served by the car park, plus residential properties, a nursing home, flats run by Mencap and a playpark. It was also used by walkers and cyclists who wanted to access the moor. ?The car park generates a lot of tourism and business,? he said. ?We are the only lottery outlet between Whitchurch and Tesco and like many small businesses in this area have come back from the brink over the last few years. A free car park gives us an advantage over other areas.? Proprietor of the Devonia Residential Home Tony Bloom said with only a very small on-site car park, his 32 staff used the community car park, as did visitors and medical staff. Howard Boulter from the Leg O? Mutton Inn and chairman of local marketing group Drakes Dartmoor, said people would not use the car park if they had to pay: ?No-one is going to pay 50p for parking for two minutes ? cars will end up parking on the moor.? Cllr John Soul, who represents Buckland Monachorum on the borough council, said when Dartmoor National Park decided to enforce a two-hour parking restriction in the Yelverton Car Park, people who had been using it for park and ride into Plymouth moved to the facility at St Paul?s Church. ?Imposing charges will only move the parking elsewhere ?down residential sidestreets and up on the moor,? he said. Managing agent for Maristowe Estate Joseph Hess said this was privately owned land which had been used for car parking for many many years free of charge. ?It has been there since time immemorial and although I sympathise with the local businesses we should not feel responsible in that way,? he said. ?All day parking, particularly in St Paul?s Church, is creating havoc and we can control this situation by bringing in charges which will in turn bring benefits to local trade.? There will be no charges for Sunday services. Mr Hess said the charges would be comparable with other tariffs in the area and the estate would consider parking permits for local residents and businesses.